Ambassador’s Remarks to the Korea-US Alliance Foundation (KUSAF)
As prepared for delivery
Greetings and thanks to General Jung for inviting me to speak as we prepare to celebrate the 70th anniversary of our historic alliance — an alliance that has made us not only allies in our common security and defense, but ultimately partners in prosperity and closest friends.
As we mark the 70th year of the ROK-US alliance, we marvel at its continued strength and reaffirm our commitment to defending the Korean people. In 2023, however, the following also applies: the character of our alliance has changed fundamentally.
It is an exciting time in our bilateral relationship as we redefine shared security with a comprehensive global partnership that addresses the full spectrum of emerging threats while creating new opportunities to promote prosperity and democratic values.
On a cold, clear February morning, I reflected on what common security means as I joined the military to repatriate the remains of an American soldier who gave his life to defend the people of South Korea.
Of course, this soldier didn’t know it then, nor did his loved ones who mourned his fate, but his sacrifice was for the freedom that ultimately paved the way for the progressive, respected, contemporary democracy that South Korea has become.
Far from his imagination, his sacrifice laid the foundation for a state-of-the-art ROK-US alliance that continually adapts to new challenges and threats to ensure the safety of future generations. He had no reason to believe that we would put a man on the moon, let alone join forces with the Korea he fought for to promote peaceful space exploration.
Today – a lifetime later – our common goals encompass every aspect of global security, sustainable development, technological advancement and economic stability. I like to think that the soldier who finally went home that February day in 2023 would be proud of the alliance he fostered.
Likewise, I would like to believe that today the hundreds of thousands of Koreans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country would be proud of his role as a global leader and strong partner in enhancing collective security, preserving the rules-based economic order, and promoting democratic values . In a single generation, Korea has grown from a recipient of humanitarian aid to a provider of humanitarian aid around the world.
That’s really remarkable.
US commitment to the Republic of Korea’s defense and security remains steadfast. And today we are also inseparable partners for mutual growth and prosperity. Korean soldiers toiling in the trenches alongside those from United Nations sending nations never dreamed that their children would continue to work together – away from the battlefield – to build the world’s 10th largest economy.
Inspired by the determination and sacrifice of their ancestors and empowered by the security of our alliance, they rebuilt their country and became partners with America in trade, investment, and innovation.
The United States is one of Korea’s largest trading and investment partners because business and industry leaders see the mutual benefits in our bilateral economic cooperation, as do the Korean and American people.
We owe it to those who came before us to uphold and nurture the alliance they built. Expanding networks and partnerships between Koreans and Americans who share common interests, shared passions, and shared values.
As we prepare for the meeting of President Yoon and President Biden for the state visit to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the US-ROK alliance, I am sure many will take the time to reflect on their legacy with a visit to the Korean War Veterans Memorial Nationale Mall in Washington DC. It’s a somber setting.
Soon, the name of this soldier from February’s repatriation ceremony here in Seoul will be engraved on the wall of this moving memorial in the heart of our nation’s capital.
On the memorial’s wall is an inscription that reads, “Our nation honors its sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a land they never knew and a people they never met.” What what it doesn’t say is that they went from people who had never met to best friends along the way.
Out of the horrors of war, irrevocable bonds and sincere bonds blossomed. Americans who served in Korea in the 1950s have understood in the decades since how much we have in common. They fostered friendships deeply rooted in trust and mutual respect that today define the close bilateral ties between the peoples of our two nations. These connections form the fundamental fabric of our alliance and extend to all facets of business and industry, civil society, arts, culture and science. They connect communities, families and friends.
There is also another line carved in the stone of the Korean War Veterans Memorial. It reminds us that “freedom is not free”. As part of our alliance for the future, it serves as a warning; We cannot become complacent in everything we have achieved.
As we prepare for the 70th anniversary of the ROK-US alliance, we should also remember the words engraved on the ground in front of the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul: “If you want peace, remember War.”
Specifically, securing peace by building a network of nations committed to defending democratic principles and the rules-based international order without resorting to violence and war.
Today, as we face unprecedented threats and outright aggression from authoritarian states, we turn to our ROC allies to redefine and strengthen the future of our shared security with multilateral initiatives that touch every aspect of global security.
This includes not only conventional defence, but also cyber security, responsible use of space, crisis management and humanitarian aid, health security, climate protection and much more. We are going beyond our borders to create an alliance that benefits not just us, but everyone in the Indo-Pacific region and the world.
Our efforts to increase global security go hand in hand with promoting prosperity. As allies, we want to give people in the Indo-Pacific and elsewhere a chance to thrive, knowing that the world is safer for all of us when others enjoy the same freedoms and opportunities that we do. South Korea is an essential partner with the United States in diversifying supply chains and securing advanced technical production to strengthen global economic security and promote sustainable development from South Asia to South America.
We focus on joint research and development initiatives related to critical and emerging technologies as our shared history of excellence in innovation should serve the global community. The world can count on American and Korean companies and industries working together and making continuous advances in areas such as the digital economy, biotechnology, quantum computing, artificial intelligence and clean energy technology.
Whether it’s solar panels or batteries for electric vehicles, our successful progress towards a sustainable, green economy is interdependent, and progress towards mitigating global climate change requires our shared commitment.
We are equally committed to helping other countries help themselves to sustainably develop with the dependable infrastructure and human capital needed to build a better future. And because our economic collaboration is based on shared values, we trust our companies to respect human rights in the countries where they operate and hold them accountable when they don’t. It means having an alliance of global leaders deeply committed to the principle that transparent, accountable governance remains the best way to ensure lasting prosperity and peace.
Together we will continue to strengthen the alliance for the common good, because we know that freedom does not come free and the only way to avoid war is to actively invest in peace, stability and security. I can’t speak for all of those whose names are engraved in black granite on our memorials and for those lost in the Korean War, but I have a feeling they would expect no less.
As we mark this important 70th anniversary, I encourage everyone to remember those who sacrificed for the comfort and relationships we enjoy today, and continue to remember them as we look forward to the next 70 years as a Allies, partners and friends look.
Thank you and I look forward to your questions.
