"70th Anniversary of the Hanmi Alliance, a Global Alliance Against Totalitarianism"

Former and current U.S. Ambassadors to Korea have evaluated that the Korea-U.S. alliance, which marks its 70th anniversary this year, has grown into a global alliance addressing important issues not only on the Korean Peninsula but around the world, and that the relationship will become even closer in the future.

Former U.S. Ambassadors to South Korea who attended the 70th Anniversary of the ROK-U.S. Alliance event held on the 9th (local time) at KEI in Washington DC, hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the U.S. and the Korea Economic Institute (KEI). From left: Alexander Vershbow, Kathleen Stephens, and Harry Harris.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Philip Goldberg, the current U.S. Ambassador to Korea, delivered a video message at the Korea-U.S. Alliance 70th Anniversary event held on the 9th (local time) in Washington DC by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the U.S. and the Korea Economic Institute (KEI), stating, "Much has changed over the past 70 years, but our commitment to each other as allies, partners, and friends remains steadfast and will only grow stronger over time."

Ambassador Goldberg said, "Today, we are redefining and strengthening the Korea-U.S. security community in the face of unprecedented threats from totalitarian states," adding that cooperation between the two countries extends beyond traditional security to all areas including cyber, humanitarian, and health sectors.

He also noted, "The Korea-U.S. alliance, which began as a military alliance, has grown into a global economic partnership, with the two countries connected through trade, supply chains, and innovative technologies that continue to transform the world," and evaluated that "as Korea continues to emerge as a global leader, it is becoming an increasingly essential partner in upholding the principles of democracy." Furthermore, he emphasized that the two countries are "standing together against the malign influence of totalitarian regimes such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine and North Korea's human rights abuses, and are stepping up for those fighting for freedom worldwide."

In addition to the current Ambassador Goldberg, former U.S. Ambassadors to Korea Thomas Hubbard (2001?2004), Christopher Hill (2004?2005), Alexander Vershbow (2005?2008), Kathleen Stephens (2008?2011), and Harry Harris (2018?2021) attended the event either in person or via video conference.

Ambassador Hill also mentioned Korea's support for Ukraine, saying, "In the past, the Korea-U.S. relationship mainly dealt with issues on the Korean Peninsula and some regional matters, but over time it now addresses global issues worldwide. This is very encouraging."

Cho Tae-yong, the Korean Ambassador to the U.S., stated, "The Korea-U.S. alliance is essential for maintaining peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula, in the Indo-Pacific, and beyond, supporting a rules-based international order and enabling us to jointly respond to global issues such as world health, humanitarian crises, and climate change."