SEOUL, August 26 (AJP) - Hours before his first summit with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, United States President Donald Trump unsettled Seoul on Monday (local time) with blunt social media remarks about the political situation in South Korea.
Posting on American social media platform Truth Social about two and a half hours before the meeting in Washington, Trump wrote, "WHAT IS GOING ON IN SOUTH KOREA? Seems like a Purge or Revolution. We can’t have that and do business there. I am seeing the new President today at the White House."
Minutes before the two leaders met, he added to the tension during a signing ceremony, saying he had heard South Korea's government had "raided churches" and "collected information at our bases."
The comments rattled Lee's delegation. Aides worried Trump was signaling he might use the Oval Office session to press the new president on domestic affairs.
When the two leaders sat down with reporters present, Trump returned to the subject. He said he had been told there were church raids in South Korea, and "If true, that would be unfortunate."
Lee responded directly. He explained that a special prosecutor appointed by South Korea's National Assembly was handling investigations related to former president Yoon Suk Yeol, and that no U.S. military facilities were searched. "The prosecutors were only checking South Korean systems inside bases," Lee said.
Trump quickly shifted tone. "I think it is a misunderstanding," he replied, adding that he was "convinced it was an error" after hearing Lee's explanation.
The tense prelude gave way to a friendlier atmosphere once the summit began. The Oval Office session proceeded without further dispute.
The raids that caught Trump’s attention are part of a wide-ranging probe by a special prosecutor into alleged abuse of power under Yoon’s administration. In July, investigators searched the Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, tied to claims that senior military officials lobbied religious and political contacts to avoid responsibility after the death of a young Marine.
The probe also included searches at Far East Broadcasting Company and parts of Osan Air Base. Officials said the base searches were limited to South Korean-controlled areas.
The investigation traces back to the 2023 death of Marine Corporal Chae Su-geun, who drowned during a flood rescue mission after allegedly being sent out without proper safety equipment or procedures. His death sparked public anger, accusations of negligence and a cover-up, and the appointment of the special prosecutor now at the center of Trump’s remarks.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
View more comments