'Ambassador Harris, rumored to resign in November, has a "social distancing" lunch with the USFK Commander'

"Disappointment(?) Over Domestic Public Opinion" After Foreign Media Reports, US Embassy in Korea Clarifies "No Change in Commitment to Strengthening ROK-US Alliance"
Sensitive Issues Like Inter-Korean Relations, GSOMIA, and ROK-US Defense Cost-Sharing Lead to Frequent Controversies Over Pressure Remarks Toward Korean Government

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] In response to foreign media reports that the U.S. Embassy in Korea is discussing Ambassador Harry Harris's resignation plans, the embassy stated that Ambassador Harris's commitment to strengthening the Korea-U.S. alliance remains unchanged.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Korea said on the 9th, "Ambassador Harris is performing his duties according to the President's wishes and continues to actively serve the United States." The spokesperson added, "We would like to inform you that Ambassador Harris's determination to contribute to strengthening the Korea-U.S. alliance remains unchanged through active communication not only with the Korean government authorities but also with the excellent Korean people and an independent press."

Amid foreign media reports citing multiple sources, Ambassador Harris showed somewhat different behavior on the same day. Coincidentally, at 3:14 p.m., Harris posted a tweet stating that he had a wonderful lunch practicing social distancing with General Robert Abrams, Commander of the United States Forces Korea. The photo he posted showed Ambassador Harris and General Abrams sitting far apart at opposite ends of a dining table inside the embassy.

Earlier, foreign media reported from Seoul, citing sources, that Harry Harris, the U.S. Ambassador to Korea, was discussing plans to resign. It was reported that he privately expressed that he did not plan to stay in Korea beyond the U.S. presidential election in November. According to the report, one source said that Ambassador Harris hoped to remain in Korea only until November, even if U.S. President Donald Trump succeeded in his re-election. The foreign media noted that previous U.S. ambassadors to Korea typically served about three years and enjoyed building friendships with Koreans, but highlighted that during Harris's tenure, conflicts between Korea and the U.S. intensified.

The source said, "Ambassador Harris will not publicly say that he is stressed or that life is difficult," adding, "He is a four-star general and has been through a lot." The source continued, "However, no one likes working for people who do not appreciate their efforts, and it is not the right way for a deeply bonded ally to hurl racially discriminatory insults."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

As foreign media pointed out, domestic public opinion about him was not positive. He repeatedly pressured for a $5 billion increase in defense costs, as demanded by President Trump, and unnecessarily stated that the President's North Korea policy should be discussed through the Korea-U.S. working group. When tensions between Korea and Japan escalated over the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), he opposed its termination, saying it would be detrimental to U.S. security. He repeatedly made statements on sensitive bilateral and security issues that diverged from the host country's position.

In January, during a meeting with foreign reporters, he said that he was criticized in Korea because he is of Japanese descent, stating, "For some reason, my beard seems to have become a kind of fascination here. I am being criticized in the media, especially on social media, because of my racial background, particularly as a Japanese American." He directly expressed his disappointment about public opinion in Korea to foreign reporters. Ambassador Harris was born to a Japanese American mother and a U.S. military father stationed in Japan. He served as Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet before being appointed Ambassador to Korea in July 2018.

If he serves until the U.S. presidential election in November as reported by foreign media, his remaining term will be about six to seven months. While the U.S. Embassy in Korea has avoided direct comments on the report, even if he serves until November, his total tenure will be only two years and four months. Former Ambassador Kathleen Stephens served for three years and two months, and former Ambassador Mark Lippert served for two years and two months as U.S. Ambassadors to Korea.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.