Yoon Delivers Joint Speech to US Congress After 10 Years... What Are the Keywords for Past Presidents?

The President of South Korea will deliver a joint address to the U.S. Congress for the first time in 10 years. If the two governments, currently coordinating a state visit to the U.S. at the end of this month, finalize this speech, it will mark the seventh time a South Korean president has taken the podium in the U.S. Congress. From former President Rhee Syngman, who criticized the "communist tyranny forces," to former President Park Geun-hye, who emphasized the significance of the 60th anniversary of the Korea-U.S. alliance, President Yoon Suk-yeol is expected to highlight the solidarity between nations sharing universal values.

According to the Presidential Office on the 6th, President Yoon received an invitation for a joint address to the U.S. Congress from Michael McCaul, Chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, at the Yongsan Presidential Office the previous afternoon. President Yoon responded, "I am pleased to deliver this historic speech."

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So far, South Korean presidents have addressed the U.S. Congress six times. Former Presidents Rhee Syngman, Kim Young-sam, Kim Dae-jung, and Lee Myung-bak spoke during state visits, while former Presidents Roh Tae-woo and Park Geun-hye delivered speeches during working visits.

A common theme in the speeches of previous presidents was "North Korea." Former President Rhee Syngman used sharp terms such as "communist tyranny forces" and "monsters" to warn against communism. Former President Roh Tae-woo introduced democratization and the Northern Policy, while former President Kim Young-sam explained the division of the Korean Peninsula and the military standoff between North and South Korea, reaffirming the alliance's commitment.

Although their policies differed, former President Kim Dae-jung also conveyed his administration's stance centered on the "Sunshine Policy." He expressed the belief that intervening in and assisting North Korea's economy could change its behavior.

Former President Lee Myung-bak described North and South Koreans as "one people sharing the same language, history, and customs," but emphasized "denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," stating that "the only key is to consistently maintain a principled approach to North Korea." His 45-minute speech received 45 rounds of applause and five standing ovations.

Former President Park Geun-hye's 2013 speech focused on reaffirming the alliance's commitment, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the Korea-U.S. alliance. She quoted the inscription on the Korean War Veterans Memorial along the Potomac River in Washington D.C.: "To the sons and daughters of America who answered the call of their country to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met, America salutes you." She also named four veterans among the members of Congress attending the joint session.

President Yoon is also expected to reflect on the significance of the Korea-U.S. alliance on its 70th anniversary and deliver a message emphasizing solidarity among nations sharing universal values. Having already strengthened cooperation and commitment through two Korea-U.S. summits since his inauguration, detailed topics may include combined defense posture and extended deterrence, future advanced technologies and economic security, as well as cultural and human exchanges. During his meeting with Chairman McCaul the previous day, President Yoon requested special support and attention from the U.S. Congress for a successful state visit and sought assistance regarding the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). A Presidential Office official stated, "The visiting U.S. lawmakers fully support the efforts of both governments to strengthen the Korea-U.S. alliance," adding, "The U.S. Congress will provide bipartisan maximum support to ensure the success of this state visit."

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