Outcome of South Korean Election May Possibly Establish a Modern Acheson Line

After the official results were announced, the White House expressed concern about Chinese interference.

Despite large and frequent rallies in South Korea by conservatives and populists for the People Power candidate Kim Moon-soo, the Democrat Party candidate Lee Jae-myung won. It took me some work to find the Lee Jae-myung rallies.

Rallies are not the only measurement of energy, but they are noticeable.

Watching the election returns from the Myul Gong Bahn Jeom (Anti-Communist Restaurant) in southern Seoul along with several Americans and South Koreans, one thing was noticed. The initial results released in South Korean media were “exit polling,” a political metric tool that has subsided in use in the United States.

New President Favors Withdrawal of US Forces From Korea

Lee said in his inaugural speech that he would bolster U.S.–Japan ties. Lee’s remark was a bit orthogonal from his past comments and behavior. In the past, he has referred to the U.S. military presence in South Korea as an “occupation force.”

In an article for the East Asia Research Center, Tara O, a retired Air Force officer and noted Korean Peninsula expert, had this to say about Lee: “Lee Jae-myung also has made anti-U.S. statements, casting the U.S. in a negative light calling the U.S. an occupation force, when he said ‘In fact, the pro-Japanese faction (Koreans), whom the U.S. was not able to liquidate, joined with the U.S. occupation forces, retaining the control system, didn’t they?’ at the Yi Yuk-sa Cultural Center on July 1, 2021.”

The withdrawal of U.S. forces and the ending of the long-standing U.S.–South Korea alliance has been the goal of left-leaning thought in the country.

When I was in South Korea during the presidential election, there arose a rare opportunity to meet with a senior-ranking North Korean defector, Kim Kuk-song. When I asked Kim which candidate was preferred by North Korea and China, he said it was likely Lee Jae-myung, so it would be easier to have the United States expelled from the Korean Peninsula.

A confirmed ambassador is critical to providing direct and clear articulation of the policies and positions of the U.S. president.

All viewpoints are personal and do not reflect the viewpoints of any organization.

This article first appeared in Epoch Times and was reprinted with permission, with minor editorial adjustments for clarity and formatting.

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