South Korean ruling party chief ‘confident’ in Yoon-Trump synergy

South Korean ruling party leader Han Dong-hoon said Thursday he believed US President-elect Donald Trump’s reelection will be a chance for South Korea and the US to deepen ties further.

Speaking at Thursday’s meeting of the party leadership, Han Dong-hoon congratulated Trump on his victory.

“My sincerest congratulations to Mr. Trump. I have said that his Asia priority policy would be an opportunity for deepening the South Korea-US relationship in a way that benefits both countries even further,” he said.

He said he has spoken of potential synergy with Trump’s approach to Asia since the party convention in July.

In one of the televised debates, the then-ruling party leader candidate said he “admired” the way Trump handled his response to the shooting at the July 13 Pennsylvania rally. “Mr. Trump has overcome a crisis that almost cost him his life with dignity,” he said in response to a question from the moderator.

Han said at the time that when Trump was in the White House, he had pursued an “Asia first strategy.” “I believe we can foster a productive relationship of mutual progress while protecting world peace,” he said when asked about a potential second term for Trump.

His response at the debate received a shoutout from Trump ally Elbridge Colby, who shared a YouTube clip of Han’s remarks on social media platform X. “South Korean People Power Party convention. Smart, realistic allies around the world are getting it. Bravo,” the former senior Pentagon official said in the post.

At Thursday’s meeting, Han said Trump’s return to the White House will serve as “both challenge and opportunity.”

“Over the past two and a half years, the Yoon administration has successfully restored the South Korea-US alliance. I am confident that the incoming Trump administration and our administration can have a productive relationship,” he said.

In a statement issued by the party press office on Thursday, a message of caution came.

“Former President Donald Trump won the presidential election, with Republicans winning control of both the House and the Senate. An era of Trump has officially begun,” it said.

The statement said Trump’s “America First” policies which prioritize US interests would affect “almost every sector from economy to trade to security,” and that the party together with the administration should “carefully shape our strategies in response.”

The Democratic Party of Korea leadership called on Yoon to reconsider his public suggestion last week of providing Ukraine with “offensive weapons” in light of the change in the US administration.

Rep. Park Chan-dae, the Democratic Party floor leader, said at Thursday’s party policy meeting that “a wave of changes” was expected in South Korea’s relationship with the US and international affairs.

“It is highly likely that the war in Ukraine will enter a new phase. President-elect Trump has already pledged to hold talks with Russia and push for a quick end to the war. There is no reason for our government to hasten deploying our troops or send lethal arms,” he said.

“I urge the government to consider what would be best for our national interests.”

Rep. Park Jie-won, who was the National Intelligence Service director for former President Moon Jae-in, said at a National Assembly forum Thursday that Republicans winning the White House as well as the Senate heralded “a great change” ahead for South Korea.

He said that Trump would want to re-negotiate the shared defense costs with the Yoon administration.

“The National Assembly will have to play an even more important role in the new era,” he said.

Rep. Youn Kun-young, who was Moon’s state affairs monitoring director, said at the same forum that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would “want to negotiate directly with Trump” without involving Seoul.

“Kim Jong-un will want to act fast because he’s now got Trump, whom he knows very well. I think Trump will want to do the same if he thinks that North Korea is in a place where he can get something done,” he said.

“The most urgent task for the Yoon administration is to buy time before the new White House comes up with a Korean Peninsula strategy that leaves us out.”

Youn said that the task of the Democratic Party and the third parties was to persuade and guide the Yoon administration and the ruling party.

“At the same time, our party has to form some kind of a contingency plan for possible security crises later in the administration, and prepare a road map for peace, if you will,” he said.