Seoul is Stephens’ first ambassadorial posting. Each of her four predecessors had previously served as ambassadors before being assigned to Korea. Even though she has no previous ambassadorial experience and was assigned to an allied nation hosting 28,500 U.S. troops, Stephens has not yet been subjected to any major criticism. This is partly due to her proficiency in the Korean language and her time previously spent here. Korean President Lee Myung-bak and U.S. President-elect Barack Obama currently face a possible standoff over differences in the bilateral free trade agreement. Obama is apparently demanding a renegotiation of the deal, saying the United States imports 700,000 automobiles to the United States each year, while Korea imports only 5,000 American cars. The Korean government and the ruling party are trying to prevent renegotiation. Some say it’s only a matter of time before bilateral relations deteriorate. If bilateral relations worsen before the Obama administration is launched, and Korean left-wing forces rally behind the anti-American banner, we may end up seeing a situation that rivals the anti-U.S.-beef protests. Stephens should consider engaging in “preventive diplomacy” and rapidly inform her government of Korean concerns about the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement. That way, she could benefit the Korean people who have warmly welcomed her as well as U.S. national interests. Kathleen Stephens, appointed US Ambassador to South Korea, served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Korea.
Lee Ha-won writes: Can Ambassador Kathleen Stephens Restore Korea-U.S. Relations?
Can Ambassador Kathleen Stephens Restore Korea-U.S. Relations?
Kathleen Stephens, also known by her Korean name Shim Eun-kyung, who was appointed U.S. ambassador to Korea in September, is the most warmly received American ambassador in the more than 100-year history of Seoul-Washington ties.
Stephens has been welcomed by Koreans after serving as a Peace Corps volunteer back in the 1970s, when Korea was emerging from poverty. In an interview with the Chosun Ilbo on Tuesday, she said many people recognize her and talk to her after Korean newspapers publicized her presence.
Seoul is Stephens’ first ambassadorial posting. Each of her four predecessors had previously served as ambassadors before being assigned to Korea. Even though she has no previous ambassadorial experience and was assigned to an allied nation hosting 28,500 U.S. troops, Stephens has not yet been subjected to any major criticism. This is partly due to her proficiency in the Korean language and her time previously spent here.
While the Senate spent four months deliberating over her appointment, Korean media attempted to encourage her selection by portraying her in a positive light. Perhaps Ambassador “Shim Eun-kyung” can serve productively as the bridge between the two countries.
Korean President Lee Myung-bak and U.S. President-elect Barack Obama currently face a possible standoff over differences in the bilateral free trade agreement. Obama is apparently demanding a renegotiation of the deal, saying the United States imports 700,000 automobiles to the United States each year, while Korea imports only 5,000 American cars. The Korean government and the ruling party are trying to prevent renegotiation. Some say it’s only a matter of time before bilateral relations deteriorate.
Stephens should inform her government of the very real problems facing Korea’s automotive market, since the issue has the potential to fray ties between the Lee and Obama administrations.
Korea has no regulations discriminating against U.S. automobiles. What is not widely known in the United States is that last year alone, 50,000 Japanese and European cars were imported to Korea. According to the democratic principles so beloved of American people, the Korean government cannot force its people to buy American cars of inferior quality. If the intention is to save troubled American carmakers by sacrificing Korea, then Stephens must convey the message that doing so could damage the bilateral alliance.
When two Korean girls were killed in an accident involving a U.S. military vehicle back in 2002, the then U.S. ambassador to Korea failed to grasp the gravity of the situation. Since then, anti-American sentiment among Koreans has increased, scarring Korean-U.S. relations.
If bilateral relations worsen before the Obama administration is launched, and Korean left-wing forces rally behind the anti-American banner, we may end up seeing a situation that rivals the anti-U.S.-beef protests. Stephens should consider engaging in “preventive diplomacy” and rapidly inform her government of Korean concerns about the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement. That way, she could benefit the Korean people who have warmly welcomed her as well as U.S. national interests.
The column was contributed by Lee Ha-won, the Chosun Ilbo's correspondent in Washington.
