The US Embassy in South Korea began running an advertisement promoting the South Korea-US alliance on the country's high-speed rail network Thursday as part of a campaign marking the 250th anniversary of US independence, officials said.
The 30-second video will run for one month on KTX trains, featuring the tagline "Two Souls, One Story" and highlighting the 250th anniversary of US independence, according to the officials.
The video uses a series of parallel images to highlight the shared history and complementary strengths of South Korea and the United States. The Statue of Liberty in New York is juxtaposed with a statue of King Sejong of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), while a US space launch is paired with a South Korean ship cutting through the waves.
It concludes with the message "Let's open the next 250 years together."
The video is seen as part of efforts by the US Embassy and new Ambassador Michelle Steel to strengthen public diplomacy and broaden engagement with the Korean public. Steel has sought to reach out to people here by visiting such places as Gwanghwamun Plaza and Namdaemun Market in central Seoul shortly after arriving in South Korea in July.
In an op-ed sent to Yonhap News Agency in July, Steel described the US-ROK alliance as "the linchpin of peace, security, and prosperity for Northeast Asia, the broader Indo-Pacific, and beyond."
"Our economic ties, our combined defense posture, and the enduring friendship between our peoples are evidence of a partnership that serves both nations and maintains the stability of the region," she said. (Yonhap)
