OPINION:
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s visit to the United States is an important moment for the relationship between our two nations. The Republic of Korea is a cornerstone of our strength in containing the Kim Jong Un dictatorship in North Korea and balancing the growing power of communist China.
It is hard to believe, but this is the 70th anniversary of the United States-Republic of Korea alliance. For seven decades, we have worked together to provide security on a peninsula which has all too often been invaded.
I have a personal interest in this 70th anniversary, because my father was fighting in Korea during the last year of the war, which began when the North Korean communist dictatorship invaded the South in June 1950. It was extended by the massive intervention of the Chinese communists in the fall of that year.
My family has had a long and deep commitment to the security of South Korea and the maintenance of peace on the peninsula.
As Speaker, I visited the Republic and was privileged to welcome President Dae-Jung Kim to address a joint session of the Congress. Listening to him say “thank you” because the United States had saved his life from political enemies in his own country was an emotionally powerful experience.
SPECIAL COVERAGE: Celebrating 70 Years: The United States & South Korea Alliance
Today, South Korea is a technologically advanced nation competitive in the world market in a wide variety of industries. It is a vibrant and exciting free society.
President Yoon is a great example of the unique pattern of the rule of law, free expression, and free elections which define the modern South Korean nation.
He rose to the presidency through an unusual route. He was a career prosecutor focused on corruption. In fact, while he led the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office, he launched investigations against Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who was involved in various scandals.
Even more amazingly, with Yoon’s courageous commitment to honesty and the rule of law, the prosecution indicted two former presidents (Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye). Yoon was equally committed to rooting out corruption in the business community.
When Yoon retired as prosecutor, he entered politics as a member of the conservative People Power Party.
Since his election, President Yoon has shown remarkable courage in solving difficult problems. His biggest risk came in deciding that the threat from communist China was too great. He knew a series of emotional issues dividing South Korea and Japan simply had to be resolved. Many Koreans resented his willingness to work with Japan, which had occupied Korea from 1910 to 1945 and had inflicted enormous physical and moral pain on the Korean people.
However, President Yoon concluded that the threats from China today and tomorrow outweighed the pain of the past. It was an act of enormous courage and cost him significantly in short term popularity.
As he visits Washington, we should remember that President Yoon has been an amazing fighter for law and order against corruption, and for our vital alliance. He is a staunch opponent of the North Korean dictatorship and deeply concerned about the threat from communist China.
He is a great friend to our country, and we should receive him in Washington as a member of the family of freedom.
• Speaker Newt Gingrich is Chairman of Gingrich 360, a multimedia production and consulting company based in Arlington, Virginia. For more commentary from Newt Gingrich, visit Gingrich360.com.
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