South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung visited the White House yesterday for his major foreign trip since assuming the presidency in June. He came to Washington directly from Tokyo, where he met his Japanese counterpart for talks.
Trade and defence are set to be on the agenda of the three-day working visit.
But ahead of his visit, US President Donald Trump posted on social media about recent political events in South Korea – suggesting he is unhappy with the prosecution of Lee’s predecessor. This set the stage for a potentially tense meeting.
Former president Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached after his short-lived martial law declaration last December.
“WHAT IS GOING ON IN SOUTH KOREA?” Trump wrote on Truth Social this morning. “Seems like a Purge or Revolution. We can’t have that and do business there. I am seeing the new President today at the White House.”
Former president Yoon, his wife, as well as several of his ministers are awaiting trial in detention for launching a failed martial law attempt in December last year.
Yoon’s supporters have been lobbying the Maga circle, hoping to enlist Trump’s help to save the disgraced leader.
From Yoon’s party lawmakers meeting Maga politicians, to his every-day supporters donning Maga hats and chanting slogans at their rallies, there has been an earnest attempt at reaching Trump’s ears.
Some here in Seoul has been anxious about whether Yoon’s supporters will succeed in their mission. This is a dream come true for Yoon and a nightmare for Lee.
Credit: bbc.com
