Song Young-gil: "ROK-U.S. Alliance Is Like Kimchi, Aging Well... I Told U.S. Lawmakers Not to Worry"

Rep. Song Young-gil of the Democratic Party of Korea, who is currently visiting the United States, compared the ROK-U.S. alliance to "kimchi," which develops a deeper flavor as it ages, stating, "For over 70 years, we have matured, communicated and cooperated more deeply, and formed a profound bond."

Rep. Song said he made these remarks after being asked by a U.S. Representative about the South Korean public's perception of the ROK-U.S. alliance during the 'Korean Culture Day' event held at the U.S. Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., on June 24 (local time), adding that he told the lawmaker, "Do not worry."

Speaking in the presence of Korean War veterans, Rep. Song emphasized the ironclad alliance, saying, "Regardless of the situation or which political party we belong to, all of us (in South Korea) believe that the ROK-U.S. alliance is the pillar that protects our freedom of expression and our lives."

Senator Andy Kim (Democrat, New Jersey), the first Korean-American to serve in the U.S. Senate, emphasized, "The influence that South Korea and the United States have is not just because of our military or economic power, but because of our culture," adding, "It is because of the changes brought about by American movies and TV programs spreading across the globe, as well as K-dramas, Korean TV programs, and movies that are expanding worldwide."

Representative Young Kim (Republican, California), also of Korean descent, expressed pride in her life in the United States, saying, "It is because the United States embraces diversity and allows us to maintain our respective cultures, traditions, and heritage while embracing all other cultures."

Representative Tom Suozzi (Democrat, New York), who took the podium to demonstrate bipartisan support for ROK-U.S. cooperation, emphasized, "We must return this country to a place that truly lives up to the ideals it represents," adding, "And to realize those ideals, we need the help of our Korean-American friends."

Rep. Suozzi, along with Rep. Young Kim and others, introduced a resolution in January last year reaffirming the importance of the ROK-U.S. alliance.

Following the event, a press conference emphasizing the importance of the ROK-U.S. alliance was held in front of the U.S. Capitol, attended by Rep. Song Young-gil, Rep. Cho Kyoung-tae (People Power Party), Rep. Suozzi, and Rep. Gregory Meeks (Democrat).

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.