The unexpected and sweeping victory of the US presidential election by Republican candidate Donald Trump is building up anxiety in the political circles here as it is expected to alter the Korea-US alliance from the past eight years of Democratic President Barack Obama’s rule.
While concerns persisted over the president-elect’s past controversial remarks, especially those expressing his hardline stance on North Korea, responses varied -- the government and ruling party calling on stronger bilateral ties, and the opposition underlining the change of government.
“President Park Geun-hye has sent a congratulatory cable to US President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect Pence, congratulating them on election victory and expressing hopes to further strengthen the Korea-US alliance,” said Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Jung Youn-kuk in a statement.
Trump’s win, according to the Blue House, was based on the US citizens’ recognition of his leadership and experience of success in various sectors.
Earlier, Trump was announced as the 45th president of the United States, outrunning his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton and contradicting most of the previous polls.
As the businessman-turned-politician’s win turned more probable, the Blue House summoned a National Security Council meeting to evaluate the forthcoming impact on the nation’s security and economy.
“Considering the ever-increasing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea, I demand that (the government) build a cooperative relationship with the incoming US administration from its transition stage,” Park said after receiving reports on the NSC meeting.
She also urged the foreign affairs and national security sectors to consolidate the Korea-US alliance so that “the strong restraint on the North may extend onto the next US administration.”
Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se (left) and Defense Minister Han Min-koo talk in the meeting at Government Seoul Complex in Seoul, Wednesday. (Yonhap)
Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn also summoned related ministers in an urgent meeting, in which he largely echoed the president’s remarks.
The ruling Saenuri Party added that the opposition wing should offer its cooperation, hinting that it should stop obstructing government moves in response to the recent series of corruption scandals involving her key aides.
“The National Assembly should play its due role to normalize state affairs and contribute to improving the Korea-US alliance,” the party said in a statement.
Chairman Rep. Lee Jung-hyun also asserted that the key task is to maintain a tight allied defense against the North’s nuclear and missile threats, announcing a government-ruling party meeting on the following day so as to discuss more detailed countermeasures.
Floor leader Rep. Chung Jin-suk, considered to be more centrist than Lee, let out some concerns over Trump’s “America First” policy.
“It is likely that the US will no longer show tolerance upon dealing with other countries, which will consequently result in our loss in the national security and economic sectors,” Chung told reporters.
He thus urged the government to immediately organize a task force to contact Trump’s incoming presidential transition team and make sure that South Korea’s policies move in line with the US interests.
Opposition parties, in contrast, described the US election outcome as referendum of the public’s resentment toward establishment politics, which was largely represented by Democratic candidate Clinton. This perspective appeared to align with the ongoing attack against corruption scandals involving President Park, her ruling party and conglomerates.
“We view the surprise outcome as the climax of mounting disappointment toward the establishment and the peoples’ desire for change,” said Rep. Park Kyung-mee, spokesperson of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, in a press briefing.
Lee Jae-myung, the DPK-affiliated mayor of Seongnam City whose outspoken remarks have increasingly resonated with progressive voters, also referred to the election result as the public’s rebuke of elitism.
The runner-up opposition People’s Party interim chief Rep. Park Jie-won, on the other hand, asserted Trump’s presidency may be a good opportunity for Korea in the diplomatic sense.
“Being the businessman that he is, Trump will make a highly pragmatic approach (to the Korean Peninsula issues),” Park said.
“We may also use (Trump’s victory) as an opportunity to free our diplomacy from its long dependency on the US.”
The US president-elect had often spoken of a fair burden-sharing for the US troops in South Korea, going as far as calling South Korea and Japan to arm themselves with nuclear weapons, in case the US withdraws its forces from the region.
By Bae Hyun-jung and Yeo Jun-suk (
tellme@heraldcorp.com) (jasonyeo@heraldcorp.com)
