US politician-alliance

By Chang Dong-woo

WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 (Yonhap) -- Korean American Congressman-elect Dan Koh expressed concern Wednesday over the state of the South Korea-U.S. alliance under President Donald Trump, pledging to help restore bilateral ties while questioning the prospects of productive diplomacy between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Koh, a Democrat who won a House seat representing Massachusetts in last week's midterm elections, made the remarks during a press conference hosted by the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus in Washington.

"I'm very concerned about the relationship," Koh said, stressing that the alliance should remain strong regardless of whether a Republican or Democratic president occupies the White House.

In the past, Koh served as a White House official during former President Joe Biden's administration and chief of staff of former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh.

He criticized Trump's treatment of Korean immigrants and Korean workers in the U.S., citing an incident involving South Koreans in Georgia last year, as well as the administration's tariff policies toward U.S. allies.

"So I will be doing everything I can to be restoring the alliance that I felt was thriving under Joe Biden, where I worked in the Biden White House," he said.

Asked about the possibility of Trump meeting North Korean leader Kim during his upcoming Asia trip, Koh said he supported diplomacy with North Korea but doubted that the president's approach would produce constructive results for either South Korea or the United States.

"I do not think that this is a president who's going to look for a productive, peaceful progress forward between South and North Korea," Koh said. "I think he's looking for notes on how to be a dictator, and I don't think that we should be playing that game."

On possible measures to strengthen the alliance, Koh said he hoped to work closely with Korean American Sen. Andy Kim, who had already contacted him about potential legislative cooperation.

"I hope to collaborate very closely with Senator Kim," he said, adding that he would like to visit South Korea after taking office. "If Korea will have me back, I would love to come visit once I am sworn in."

Koh also stressed the importance of maintaining people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, saying he wanted South Koreans to feel welcome in the United States.

"I want every single person living in South Korea to feel like they can come to the United States, they can visit the United States, that our universities are open to them," he said.

Asked about Seoul's interest in expanding bilateral cooperation on uranium enrichment and shipbuilding, Koh expressed openness to considering proposals that could strengthen the alliance, without endorsing any specific initiative.

"I think anything that the South Korean government would be interested in and try to strengthen the alliance is mutually beneficial," he said.

Koh, whose family roots trace to South Korea's southern island of Jeju and Lebanon, also expressed gratitude for the support he received from the Korean American community during his election campaign.

"Of all the different groups in my life, whether it be places I went to school or background, the Korean American community by far was most supportive of my race," he said.

He thanked residents of Jeju for displaying a banner celebrating his victory and said he hoped to encourage greater Asian American participation in U.S. politics.

"When I was in the White House, myself and a few other colleagues had the first Chuseok celebration in the White House, and to see Korean grandmothers cooking bulgogi in the halls of the White House was a pretty exciting moment," Koh said.

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