Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, noted, “We will support President Donald Trump's efforts to resume dialogue in North America,” adding, “We will also consider nominating Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.”
In an interview published with The Washington Post (WP) on the 14th, Lee stated, “If there is significant progress on the nuclear and missile issue on the Korean Peninsula, it would be beneficial for everyone.”
WP explained Lee's reference to the Nobel nomination, saying, “This could be good news for President Trump,” and noted, “Trump said it was 'most beautiful' when former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019.”
Additionally, Lee stated regarding the Sino-U.S. conflict, “It is important to manage balance, but the problem is that South Korea is at the forefront.”
In response, WP interpreted it as 'meaning that South Korea cannot distance itself from China' and suggested that this position could potentially create confrontations with the Trump administration.
Regarding Korea-Japan relations, Lee acknowledged that South Korea and Japan should cooperate as neighboring democratic countries, but stated, “We cannot back down on unresolved historical issues such as compensation for forced laborers.”
He remarked, “This is a problem that Japan must resolve like Germany,” adding, “Germany has shown serious reflection, but Japan has not properly acknowledged the wrongs of its colonial period.”
Nevertheless, he added, “It is still important for South Korea to strengthen its security alliance with the United States and cooperate with both the U.S. and Japan.”
Lee emphasized that there has been no change in the commitment to strengthening trilateral relations among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan.
He questioned, “The U.S. does not need to worry excessively or unnecessarily about the South Korea-U.S. alliance even if the Democratic Party takes power in South Korea,” adding, “If the Democratic Party intends to harm the South Korea-U.S. relationship, what can we gain?” He continued, “We would lose more from deteriorating relations with the U.S. than from what we gain in relations with China.”
Regarding this, WP noted that Lee has shown changes in his foreign policy compared to the past.
Lee expressed that the U.S. also would not insist on a hostile or cooperative stance toward China, stating that South Korea should adopt a similar approach.
Regarding the 'tariff war' initiated by President Trump, he remarked, “It is not a favorable situation from South Korea's perspective,” but suggested that considering the U.S. inflation issue, it seems difficult for the U.S. to maintain such a policy.
Lee recounted his experience during the attack in January last year, saying, “As I fell, I looked up at the sky and thought, ‘I won’t be able to see this sky anymore. This is death.’”
He added, “The rest of my life felt like a ‘bonus.’ I have become a freer person and worry less about the importance of my life.”