New Beginnings Project: Post-Election Prospects for U.S.-ROK Relations
During a press conference held in New York at The Korea Society, three members of the New Beginnings project delivered a summary of their just released report on the post-election prospects for U.S.-ROK relations.
The New Beginnings project was launched in January, 2008 under the joint auspices of The Korea Society and Stanford University's Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center. With the inauguration of a new administration in South Korea and presidential elections scheduled in the U.S. for later in the year, 2008 affords great potential for Seoul and Washington to renew and refocus their alliance. In recognition of this potential, the project's objective is to formulate recommendations on ways to improve bilateral relations for the consideration of the two nations' leaders.
The members of the project who participated in the press conference were Michael H. Armacost, Shorenstein Distinguished Fellow, former U.S. ambassador to Japan and the Philippines and former undersecretary of state for political affairs; Thomas C. Hubbard, former U.S. ambassador to South Korea; Evans J.R. Revere, president of The Korea Society; Gi-Wook Shin, director of the Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center; and David Straub, a former director of Korean and Japanese affairs at the State Department.
Even though the U.S. and ROK have overcome diplomatic turbulence as well substantive differences over their respective approaches to North Korea in recent years, it was noted that obstacles to closer engagement still remain. In particular, concern was voiced that anti-trade sentiment in the U.S. Congress would delay progress in implementing the KORUS Free Trade Agreement. On the other hand, a note of optimism was struck on the prospects for Korea's inclusion in the visa waiver program, a step that all agreed would enhance the vitality of the alliance by facilitating more person-to-person contacts.