US President Donald Trump stirred concerns by posting a cryptic message on his social media, hinting at a “Purge or Revolution” occurring in South Korea, before his meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Monday.
This statement, many believed, referenced the political chaos surrounding the prosecution of former President Yoon Suk Yeol after his attempt to impose martial law last December.
However, the tense atmosphere dissipated once Lee greeted Trump with effusive praise, reports AP/UNB.
Lee, having recently taken office amid political upheaval in South Korea, began by complimenting one of Trump’s pet projects—the White House’s interior design. He noted the Dow Jones index has reached record highs, while acknowledging its slight decline, and urged Trump to continue working toward Korean reunification. Lee commented about the possibility of a Trump Tower in North Korea, coupled with a round of golf there.
“We’ve known each other and gotten along very well,” Trump commented, adding, “It’s a great honour to be with you and congratulations on your election. That was a big one, and we’re with you 100%.”
Lee’s approach to the meeting was a textbook example of how leaders navigate their interactions with Trump, often choosing flattery over confrontation in hopes of securing favourable terms in areas like trade and military aid from Washington.
Lee also agreed with Trump’s view that North Korea’s nuclear advancements under leader Kim Jong Un might not have enhanced if Trump had remained in office.
The cordiality stood in stark contrast to Trump’s earlier social media remarks. Trump had mentioned hearing “bad things” and alluded to raids on churches and on a US military base by the present South Korean government, which he believed they “probably shouldn’t have done.”
Trump did not specify which raids he was referring to. Earlier this month, South Korean police had raided a church led by a conservative activist pastor linked by authorities to the riot sparked by Yoon’s supporters at a Seoul court. Additionally, a special prosecutor’s team investigating corruption claims against Yoon’s wife—former first lady Kim Keon Hee who was arrested—had also raided the Unification Church as one of its officials allegedly gave her luxury goods.
Meanwhile, a raid at Osan Air Base took place in relation to Yoon’s martial law decree. The air base is jointly operated by the US and South Korea. Seoul maintains the search was limited to areas controlled by South Korea with no involvement of the US military operations.
Lee, a former child labourer who ascended through South Korea’s political ranks, expressed his concerns about Trump’s earlier social media post, admitting that it made him fear he might face a “Zelenskyy moment.” However, Lee remained confident in the strength of the South Korea-US alliance and praised the meeting as exceeding his expectations.
“Everybody gave me the advice to have patience,” Lee said about the meeting with Trump.
He also assured Trump that South Korea would increase its defence spending, even as his country works to ease tensions across the border with North Korea. “We will increase our defence budget, which will be used to transform the Korean military into a smart military that will prevail in future,” Lee said.
The two leaders also discussed trade relations, with Lee mentioning a previous agreement where South Korea committed hundreds of billions of dollars to the US, including a deal that lowered tariffs on South Korean goods to 15% after Trump had threatened 25%. Lee also emphasised the need to address trade imbalances, a subject that Trump has repeatedly criticised, especially with countries like South Korea, which enjoys a trade surplus with the US.
Trump also raised the idea of terminating the lease for the US base at Osan Air Base, instead suggesting that the US could take ownership of the land.