Chun In-bum

A new administration will confront the many challenges that the United States faces both internally and internationally to Make America Great Again. Despite concerns about an "America First" policy, a strong United States ultimately serves the best interests of many nations, including the Republic of Korea. Koreans are concerned about the economic effects that a Trump presidency might have on the Korean economy and security. While Donald Trump’s emphasis on tariffs raises concerns for South Korea, a strong U.S. economy ultimately benefits both Korea and the broader free world.

South Korea benefited from the ROK-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty that has been the basis on which the Korean people were able to build an economy and become the democracy that it is today. Not only did the United States lose 37,000 lives fighting the communists during the Korean War, but since the armistice, more than 640 Americans lost their lives providing stability and protecting peace on the Korean Peninsula. Conversely, South Korea has been a strong supporter of the United States, exemplified by the seven and a half years of troop deployment to Vietnam of more than 350,000 soldiers, of which 25,000 soldiers became casualties.

Conservatives in Korea have a deep appreciation and trust of the United States that borders on dependency. They have religious, societal and security ties with the United States. Progressives in South Korea see the United States........

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