Democratic Party First-Term Lawmakers Visit U.S. Embassy, Urge Apology for Georgia Detention Incident

First-term lawmakers of the Democratic Party of Korea visited the U.S. Embassy in Seoul on the 22nd to protest and demand an apology regarding the detention of Korean workers in Georgia, United States. Regarding tariff negotiations, they emphasized, "The U.S. government must stop imposing unreasonable tariffs and establish a mutually beneficial negotiation framework."

Rookie members of the Democratic Party of Korea placed their hands on a letter in front of the U.S. Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 22nd, addressing the detention of Korean Americans in Georgia and the Korea-U.S. tariff negotiations. From left to right: Kim Sangwook, Kim Junhyuk, Lee Jaegang, Lim Miae, Kwon Hyangyeop. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

First-term lawmakers Kim Sangwook, Kim Junhyuk, Kwon Hyangyup, Lee Jaegang, and Lim Miae of the Democratic Party of Korea stated that they visited the U.S. Embassy in Seoul that afternoon, saying, "We are here to deliver a letter of protest regarding the Georgia detention incident and the tariff hikes to Joseph Yun, the acting U.S. Ambassador to Korea."

The letter included the following demands: an official apology and acknowledgment of responsibility for the human rights violations experienced by citizens of an allied nation; a commitment to institutional reforms, including addressing legislative gaps and improving law enforcement guidelines; an end to discriminatory tariffs and respect for the spirit of the Free Trade Agreement; the removal of non-tariff barriers such as environmental, quarantine, and safety standards; and the establishment of a mutually beneficial negotiation framework.

Previously, on the 17th, 70 first-term lawmakers of the Democratic Party of Korea held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Center, calling on the U.S. government to "stop imposing unreasonable tariffs." At the press conference, they criticized, "The United States is attempting to strengthen tariffs on Korean automobiles and major products under the pretext of protecting its own industries. This not only goes against the principles of free trade but also poses a serious threat to the global competitiveness of Korean companies." They further stated, "The U.S. must respect the spirit of the Free Trade Agreement, end discriminatory tariffs on major Korean exports such as automobiles, steel, and agricultural products, and conduct negotiations within a reasonable framework that respects the international trade order."

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