Gallego Statement on South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol Address to Congress

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, His Excellency Yoon Suk Yeol, President of the Republic of Korea, addressed a Joint Meeting of Congress in the Hall of the House of Representatives.

Following the Joint Meeting, Rep. Gallego issued the following statement:

“The close relationship between the United States and South Korea is one forged in shared sacrifice and maintained by our mutual commitment to democratic principles. On the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-ROK alliance, it was an honor to hear directly from President Yoon about the endurance of our strong, combined defense posture, our growing economic cooperation, and our continued commitment to maintaining peace in the Indo-Pacific. I’m proud to continue championing our close partnership with the ROK, which has brought economic prosperity, technological advancement, and stronger security for both our great nations.”

Since 2017, Rep. Gallego has led Congressional efforts supporting the ROK, and responding to multiple crises on the Korean Peninsula.

In August 2017, Rep. Gallego spoke out against President Trump’s rhetoric and push for war with North Korea, and further urged economic sanctions aimed at countries that continue to trade with North Korea. In September 2017, Rep. Gallego wrote a letter to then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis requesting a casualty estimate of a potential conflict with North Korea.

In January 2018, Rep. Gallego and Sen. Tammy Duckworth visited South Korea and Japan and spent four days meeting with America's top military leaders and diplomats in the region, with Defense and Foreign Affairs Ministers from Japan and South Korea, and with North Korean defectors, human rights activists, and American service members. They toured the Demilitarized Zone ("DMZ") on the border with North Korea, warning about the true risks of a conflict with North Korea.

In June 2018, Rep. Gallego hosted South Korean Ambassador Cho Yoon-je to discuss the tenuous situation on the Korean peninsula and how Congress and the United States could continue to secure the peace through mutual defense with South Korea.

Later that year, President Trump signed the FY2019 NDAA into law, which included Rep. Gallego's provision ensuring that active U.S. troop levels in the Republic of Korea remain above 22,000 unless the Secretary of Defense could certify that our national security and that of our allies would not be diminished by a reduction in that number. Rep. Gallego secured similar language in the FY2020 NDAA and the FY2021 NDAA.

In the FY2022 National Defense Authorization Act, Rep. Gallego voted in support of provisions which reaffirmed the United States’ long-term commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea and the combined defense posture under the US-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty. The NDAA also reiterated that the presence of 28,500 United States Armed Forces in South Korea serves as a strong deterrent against North Korean military aggression and as reassurance for our allies in the region. Rep. Gallego successfully fought for similar language in the FY2023 NDAA.