"If I Agreed to U.S. Demands, I Would Be Impeached"... Time Magazine Publishes President Lee Interview

Time Publishes President Lee's Interview on the 18th
On U.S. Pressure Over the $35 Billion Investment Fund
"If I Had Agreed to U.S. Demands, I Would Have Been Impeached"
When Asked About Recommending Trump for the Nobel Prize
"If There Is Progress on the North Korea Issue, Trump Is the Only One Deserving"

On September 18, President Lee Jaemyung set out South Korea's role in the international community as a "bridge" in an interview featured in the cover story of *Time* magazine, widely regarded as one of the most influential publications in the world. He argued that, as an ally of the United States while being economically intertwined with China, the South Korean government is uniquely positioned to foster "exchange and cooperation" in the region.

In the interview with *Time* conducted on September 3, President Lee emphasized that South Korea is building a friendly relationship with the U.S. administration and is positioned to act as a bridge for exchange and cooperation in the region. President Lee stated, "We will stand in solidarity with the United States within the supply chain system and the new world order centered on the U.S.," but also explained, "We must manage our relationship with China so as not to provoke them."

President Lee believes that if South Korea fails to fulfill its role as a bridge, "there is a risk that Korea could become the front line of conflict between the two blocs." *Time* also assessed President Lee as "seeking to position Korea as a bridge between East and West," and described his efforts as an attempt to "reboot" Korea. However, *Time* also noted that it will not be easy for President Lee to maintain balance, referencing the meeting of North Korean, Chinese, and Russian leaders during the Victory Day military parade in Beijing on September 3.

The intensified U.S. trade pressure following President Donald Trump's administration was cited as a factor threatening South Korea's bridge role. President Lee, referring to the 35 billion dollar investment fund for the U.S., said, "If I had agreed to all of the U.S. demands, I would have been impeached," adding, "I asked the U.S. negotiation team for reasonable alternatives."

Lee: "If there is progress on the North Korea issue, the Nobel Prize should go to Trump"

However, President Lee offered a positive assessment of President Trump, saying, "He is a very good person." President Lee added, "Although he may appear unpredictable on the surface, I believe he is a highly results-oriented and pragmatic individual who has led a successful life as a businessman."

When asked whether he would consider recommending President Trump as a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize, President Lee replied, "If there is concrete progress on the North Korea issue, there would be no one more deserving of the Nobel Prize than President Trump." Regarding what constitutes concrete progress, President Lee elaborated, "We should pursue a step-by-step process toward halting, reducing, and ultimately denuclearizing North Korea through negotiations that partially ease or lift sanctions."

President Lee particularly stressed that the best approach to the North Korean nuclear issue is to induce abandonment of nuclear weapons by partially easing sanctions. Citing the U.S.-North Korea Geneva Agreement as an example, President Lee said, "We should exchange partial easing of sanctions for phased negotiations (freeze → reduction → denuclearization)." He added, "I believe there is a middle ground between accepting North Korea's nuclear program and achieving complete denuclearization, rather than an all-or-nothing choice."

Meanwhile, President Lee, who has pledged to usher in the "KOSPI 5000 era," held a luncheon meeting at the Yongsan presidential office on September 18 with the heads of research centers from 16 domestic and international securities firms under the theme "Capital Market Normalization: The Beginning of a New Leap Forward," where he listened to policy improvement ideas.

Additionally, President Lee met with Michael Sandel, Harvard University professor and author of "Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?", in the afternoon to exchange views on the rapidly changing world order.