It has been a turbulent but inspiring year for Koreans. A declaration of martial law last winter plunged the country into uncertainty, but what followed wasn’t chaos — it was the reaffirmation of a people’s unwavering faith in democracy.
The “Revolution of Light,” which culminated in the peaceful election of a new government, reminded the world that the constitutional order of the Republic of Korea rests not on the will of any ruler, but on the collective conscience of its citizens.
Some observers abroad have mistaken the intensity of Korea’s political transition for fragility or deviation from democratic norms. In reality, such intensity is the heartbeat of democracy itself. Our debates are often fierce, our elections are passionately contested, yet our institutions endure. That resilience – born of experience, sacrifice and civic discipline – is Korea’s greatest democratic asset.
President Donald Trump greets South Korean President Lee Jae Myung upon his arrival at the White House on August 25, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Chen Mengtong/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images)
Since taking office, President Lee Jae Myung has acted quickly to strengthen the foundations of democracy at home and renew the Republic of Korea’s partnership with the United States. In words and deeds, President Lee has recognized the critical importance of the ROK-US alliance and strengthened pragmatic cooperation with President Donald Trump, putting our interconnected security and economic objectives and shared values at the center of his agenda.
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This approach reflects Korea’s confidence as a mature democracy and responsible global partner. President Lee sees the alliance not just as a legacy of the past, but as a living partnership adapting to new challenges – from regional security and economic cooperation to advanced future technology.
This vision became clear at their summit in August, where the two leaders spoke with candor and mutual respect, underscoring their shared determination to build what they called a “forward-looking comprehensive strategic alliance.” President Trump’s comment, “We’ve gotten along really well,” captured the new tone of trust that shaped this alliance.
President Lee and the entire Korean government have taken pains to ensure that even as we focus on restoring our democratic system, we will not waver for a second in our responsibilities as a friend and ally. This is what makes certain comments – portraying Korea’s new leadership as undemocratic, illegitimate or even religiously hostile – so baffling and saddening. Such claims, often repeated in online forums and even opinion pages, bear little resemblance to the facts and hinder our collective efforts for real solutions.
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Let’s set the record straight: The government of the Republic of Korea is democratically elected. President Lee prevailed in a fair and transparent vote recognized around the world for meeting the highest electoral standards. Neither Korea’s independent judiciary nor opposition parties objected to the outcome.
Since then, the principles of the rule of law have been scrupulously observed. Ongoing legal proceedings related to the previous government’s declaration of martial law and other alleged abuses of power are being conducted by independent prosecutors appointed by the National Assembly – and not by the presidential office. These legal proceedings demonstrate the rule of law, not its erosion.
Equally baseless are recent claims that the new government is ‘anti-Christian’. Such stories appear to arise from ongoing investigations into bribery allegations involving church funds, but to people familiar with Korea, the idea of bias is demonstrably absurd.
Christianity, along with Buddhism and other religions, has played an integral role in the social and cultural life of Korea. Christian missionaries helped establish many of the country’s most important educational and medical institutions. Countless Christians sacrificed their lives for Korea’s independence from Japanese colonial rule.
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Today, much of the Korean population identifies as Christian, with millions of Protestants and Catholics contributing to the fabric of Korean society. These individuals, like people of all faiths, continue to play a vital role in civic life, community service, and the pursuit of national unity.
President Lee himself is a man of the Christian faith. He and his government have the deepest respect for the freedoms of religion and expression, which are enshrined in our Constitution. They, like all Koreans, are unequivocally proud of the heritage of Christianity and believe that religious freedom in the Republic of Korea rivals that of anywhere in the world.
Portraying legitimate, lawful efforts to restore democratic order as a campaign against Christianity is not only misleading, but also undermines the Christian heritage and respect for the religious freedoms central to Korea’s democratic values.
Because Koreans are committed to democracy, vigorous debates and even disagreements are more than welcome. This is what the new Korean government has tried so vigorously to protect over the past four months. But mischaracterizing everything that happened does nothing to promote mutual understanding or deliver real solutions for either Koreans or Americans.
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The Republic of Korea and the United States have supported our alliance through eight decades of courage and sacrifice. Today’s challenges require nothing less. Under President Lee’s administration, Americans can be assured they have a friend and partner who shares core values and is committed to the success of both our countries.
Look no further than their summit on August 25, where the two leaders ushered in the era of a “forward-looking comprehensive strategic alliance” – one that confidently looks forward to a more secure, democratic and prosperous future for both nations. Korea’s story is not one of uncertainty, but of conviction: that a free people, tested by history, can renew both its democracy and its alliance with courage and grace.
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