Minister Kim Refutes U.S. Conservative Expert's Column
"Baseless Attacks Are an Affront to the Korean People"
The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the United States has directly refuted claims published in a U.S. media outlet ahead of the Korea-U.S. summit, which alleged that President Lee Jaemyung is anti-American.
On August 20 (local time), the Washington-based political media outlet The Hill published an op-ed by Hakjo Kim, Minister for Public Diplomacy at the Korean Embassy in the United States, titled "Korea's Democracy Thrives and the U.S.-Korea Alliance Remains Strong."
This column was written in response to a previous op-ed by Gordon Chang, a conservative China expert, titled "South Korea’s Anti-American President Comes to Washington," which was published in the same outlet on August 15.
In his column, Chang claimed, "President Lee is a fierce anti-American who previously referred to U.S. Forces Korea as 'an occupying army' and accused the United States of maintaining Japan's colonial rule." He also mentioned the reduction of joint U.S.-Korea military exercises and the search of Osan Air Base, asserting that "while President Lee appears to cooperate with the United States on the surface, he has actually weakened the alliance."
An article by Seokjo Kim, Public Affairs Officer at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the United States, published in The Hill on the 15th. It refuted the conservative commentator Gordon Chang's article. Screenshot from The Hill
In response, Minister Kim argued that "the article misrepresented Korean democracy, the president, and the U.S.-Korea alliance," and proceeded to refute each point. He explained, "Since his candidacy, President Lee has emphasized the U.S.-Korea alliance as the cornerstone of Korea's foreign and security policy, and he has repeatedly reaffirmed this since taking office." He added, "The alliance is a pillar of regional stability, and both countries have closely responded to threats and opportunities together."
Regarding the allegation of reducing joint military exercises, Kim stated, "The Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise is being conducted as scheduled, and certain adjustments to the schedule were made through bilateral consultations to ensure the safety of troops during the heatwave." On the search at Osan Air Base, he clarified, "The investigation was conducted only in areas under Korean control, and U.S. military personnel or equipment were not involved in any way."
Minister Kim also addressed the issue of Korean democracy and the legitimacy of the election, stating, "The 2022 presidential election was held freely and fairly, with no objections raised by the judiciary or major political parties." He emphasized, "The 49.4% vote share is the second highest since the introduction of direct presidential elections in 1987, and baseless attacks on a legitimately elected president are an affront to the Korean people."
Regarding former President Yoon Sukyeol, Kim explained, "The claim that the insurrection charges were fabricated is untrue. He was unanimously impeached by the Constitutional Court for illegally declaring martial law, and he was treated according to the same standards as any other criminal suspect."
Minister Kim concluded by stating, "If one truly wishes for the prosperity of the U.S.-Korea alliance, it is a responsible attitude to help ensure that the summit serves as an opportunity to deepen the alliance, rather than leading with baseless criticism."
Meanwhile, President Lee is scheduled to visit Washington, D.C. on August 24 and will hold his first summit with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on August 25.
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