During his 5-day, 7-night visit to Washington, D.C., Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, held discussions with think tanks focused on studying key policies of the Donald Trump administration and the American conservative movement.
Jang announced on Facebook on Wednesday that he had met with prominent think tanks, including the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) and the Heritage Foundation.
He elaborated that it engaged in comprehensive discussions on diplomacy and security, covering topics such as the future of the U.S.-South Korea alliance, security and economic issues, energy concerns, the threat posed by China, and the shipbuilding industry’s capacity to support the construction of U.S. auxiliary fleets.
Jang emphasized that it must navigate multiple challenges, including the energy crisis and security risks, through a robust U.S.-South Korea alliance. It’s important to remember that every crisis presents new opportunities.
He further stated that building on today’s in-depth discussions, he’s committed to strengthening the U.S.-South Korea alliance and developing a new security strategy for the People Power Party. This strategy aims to elevate South Korea’s status as a global pivotal state.
Jang kicked off his official schedule on Tuesday by paying respects at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. He then met with U.S. Representative Young Kim and Representative Joe Wilson, both members of the Congressional Korea Caucus. He also held discussions with members of the local Korean-American community.
Currently, Jang is reportedly focusing on preparing for his English speech. He is scheduled to deliver remarks in English at a roundtable meeting hosted by the International Republican Institute (IRI), a nonprofit organization led by Republican figures, on Wednesday. He will also meet with Representative Trent Kelly. Later that afternoon, he plans to visit the White House and the State Department.
Kim Min-soo, a senior party official accompanying Jang on his U.S. trip, shared photos on Facebook on Tuesday of meetings with Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel and Republican Representative Darrell Issa from California.
Chairwoman Joe Gruters, known for her pro-Trump stance, has supported legislation to limit the scope of mail-in voting to reduce potential election fraud. Representative Issa has been critical of the South Korean government’s response to the Coupang data breach incident.