On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed claims made by a U.S. Congressman that South Korea’s democracy is shifting leftward, stating that it respects the sovereign choice of the people of that nation.
Rubio made this statement during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on the State Department’s budget for fiscal year 2027. He was responding to concerns raised by Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA) about South Korea’s changing political landscape and its relationship with China.
Issa argued that South Korea’s democracy has strongly tilted to the left and is opening more channels towards China, while also claiming that it is suppressing American companies, including Meta and Coupang.
In response, Rubio noted that this is a unique characteristic we encounter when dealing with democratic nations, and it’s a phenomenon we observe quite frequently in the hemisphere. He explained that in democracies, voters sometimes elect leaders who are more favorable to U.S. interests, as in Japan, while at other times, they choose leaders with different perspectives.
He emphasized that it respects the sovereign choice of the people of that nation. It’s a legitimate election, and it’s their decision.
Rubio added that just because democratically elected leaders take positions contrary to U.S. national interests, it doesn’t seek to overthrow or remove those governments. That’s because they are democratically elected.
He further stated that if they engage in actions that harm U.S. national interests, it needs to address those issues with them.
However, Rubio acknowledged concerns about regulatory issues affecting American companies.
He pointed out that American companies are facing challenges not only in South Korea but also in Europe. The European Union (EU) is targeting American tech companies, and it views this as unfair.
Rubio explained that these issues have also been raised in U.S.-South Korea relations, indicating that certain actions against American companies have been obstacles during trade agreement negotiations with South Korea.
His comments reflect a measured diplomatic response to recent concerns from some conservative factions in the U.S. regarding the South Korean government.
At the conclusion of the questioning, Congressman Issa requested to include a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) op-ed titled, South Korea Takes a Hard Left Turn Against America, in the congressional record, which the chairman approved.
The op-ed, co-authored by Nicholas Eberstadt from the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), a conservative think tank, and Lawrence Peck, an advisor to the North Korea Freedom Coalition (NKFC), argues that the Lee Jae Myung government and the Democratic Party are hard left. It raises concerns about their approach to China, security cooperation with the U.S., and policies toward North Korea, asserting that South Korea is distancing itself from the U.S.
The article addresses various issues, including South Korea’s perceived shift away from American influence.