Concerns Ahead of South Korean President’s Meeting with Trump

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed that his team was a bit uneasy about potential outcomes from meetings with President Donald Trump, referring to a potential “Zelensky moment.” In preparation for their meeting in Washington, DC, on Monday, Lee mentioned he had even read Trump’s books, including The Art of the Deal.

Lee’s visit to the White House coincided with Trump’s remarks about Korea’s political instability, describing it as a “purging or revolution” related to genuine societal issues, which he felt complicated U.S. business interests in the region.

Amid rising tensions in Korea, particularly following the controversial tenure of ex-President Yoon Suk-Yeol, who attempted to impose martial law in December 2022, Lee won a special election in June as a leader of the left-leaning Democratic Party after Yoon’s dismissal in April.

Trump mentioned that there had been a recent “vicious attack” on a church by the new South Korean government, suggesting that police actions during this incident may have been unwarranted, although he noted he wasn’t entirely sure of the facts.

Before their meeting, Lee noted that Trump had made a somewhat provocative post on social media, which added to the anticipation of their discussions at the Center for Strategic and International Studies later that day.

During their meeting, Trump reassured Lee, saying, “I’m sure it will work.” Lee elaborated on the church attack being part of an investigation related to Yoon, confirming it occurred last July at the Osan Air Force Base and was limited to South Korea’s control measures.

Lee reflected on the possibility of falling into a situation akin to what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky faced, stating that his team had worries, but he was confident that they could handle it differently. He had read Trump’s 1987 memoir to prepare for this encounter.

In their discussions, it emerged that the U.S. and South Korea had come to an agreement on a 15% tariff rate on Seoul’s exports, along with a significant $100 billion energy investment. While Trump acknowledged some uncertainty among leaders regarding the deal, he was firm in sticking to the agreed terms.

Lee noted, while speaking with a CSIS reporter, that Trump’s negotiation tactics often made positions difficult for the opposing party to accept. However, he believed that Trump would not jeopardize their alliance, especially considering its importance.