South Korean President Yoon Addresses Congress: Key Moments

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol rose to the presidency making the case for closer ties with the US. On Thursday, he brought his case to US lawmakers — and found a receptive audience.

In a speech that offered a summary of ties, Yoon asked for even closer security cooperation and highlighted deep economic connections. He drew repeated standing ovations from lawmakers in a closely divided Congress with references to “great American heroes” from the Korean war and promises of closer relations.

It was the first speech to a joint session of Congress by a South Korean leader in a decade, and it came at a fortuitous time. Anti-China sentiment is running high on both sides of the aisle in the US, and South Korea is seen as an important ally as China grows more assertive.

“Korea is committed to fostering a ‘free, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific’” based on “inclusiveness, trust and reciprocity,” he said. “We will strengthen the rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific,” he said, picking up on one of the Biden administration’s favorite catchphrases for how governments should work with each other.

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