A South Korea Alliance is Essential

During his high-profile state visit to Washington last week, South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol began his speech to the U.S. Congress by quoting part of the opening line of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address: “A new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” Although the “new nation” refers to the United States, the values of liberty and equality apply equally to South Korea. Yoon’s visit underscored his country’s resolve to embrace a new future by building on its 70-year alliance with the United States and working together to promote freedom, peace, and prosperity in east Asia and beyond.

South Korea’s remarkable transformation from a war-torn country to the world’s tenth-largest economy is a testament to the resilience and determination of its people.

About the Author

Jianli Yang

Jianli Yang is a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Center for the National Interest and a columnist for National Review.

YK

About the Author

Yonghun Kim

Yonghun Kim, a Korean American, is a senior adviser at the Center for Civic Culture Studies.

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During his high-profile state visit to Washington last week, South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol began his speech to the U.S. Congress by quoting part of the opening line of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address: “A new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” Although the “new nation” refers to the United States, the values of liberty and equality apply equally to South Korea. Yoon’s visit underscored his country’s resolve to embrace a new future by building on its 70-year alliance with the United States and working together to promote freedom, peace, and prosperity in east Asia and beyond.

South Korea’s remarkable transformation from a war-torn country to the world’s tenth-largest economy is a testament to the resilience and determination of its people.