Trump administration urges South Korea to embrace ‘democratic resilience’ ahead of tense election

The Trump administration is urging South Korean voters to embrace their history of “democratic resilience” as they head into a pivotal presidential election prompted by months of wrenching political turmoil.

The administration has been uncharacteristically quiet as one of its closest allies in Asia has endured a cascading series of scandals that started with a ham-handed declaration of martial law, followed by weeks of impeachments that felled the conservative administration of then-President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was removed from office.

There also have been rising concerns among Western intelligence agencies and outside observers that communist China has been meddling inside South Korea in hopes of helping the more liberal and Beijing-friendly Democrat party win the presidency in next week’s election.

Just the News pressed the Trump administration this week on where it stands on next Tuesday’s South Korean election, and early Friday received an official statement from a senior administration official. 

“The Republic of Korea has demonstrated its democratic resilience, and we strongly support the Korean people throughout this process,” the official told Just the News.  “We’ve seen it follow, peacefully, a process laid out in its constitution, and we’re ready to work with the incoming ROK government.  

“Our Alliance has made significant strides, and we look forward to partnering with the ROK to make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous,” it added.

The liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung has been widely ahead in the polls after the Yoon scandal but there are signs conservative Kim Moon Soo has been closing the gap.

The two clashed bitterly during their final debate this week with Lee suggesting that Kim was just an “avatar” for the disgraced Yoon while Kim warned Lee was a “harbinger of monster politics and dictatorship,” The Associated Press reported.

South Korean voters are highly energized by the moment, with early voting poised to set a record.