"Trump Respects North Korea More Than South Korea... Very Concerned About U.S.-South Korea Relations": U.S. House Member-Elect Blasts Trump

Dan Go Criticizes Arrests of South Korean Workers and Tariffs on South Korea
North Korea-U.S. Dialogue Skepticism... "I Don't Believe It Will Produce a Positive Outcome"
Vows to Check the Trump Administration on the House Oversight Committee

Dan Go (41, Korean name Go Wonyoung), a Korean American elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in the recent midterm elections, launched a forceful criticism of the Trump Administration's policies toward South Korea. Go took aim at tariffs imposed on allies and the detention of South Korean workers, and bluntly accused U.S. President Donald Trump of showing greater respect for North Korea than for South Korea.

U.S. President Donald Trump (left) shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at Panmunjom in June 2019. Yonhap News Agency

"Sudden Tariffs on an Ally Are a Disgrace"... He Also Criticizes Arrests of Workers in Georgia

Speaking at a news conference for newly elected members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), held on November 11 (local time) near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Go began by saying, "I am very concerned about U.S.-South Korea relations."

He cited the mass arrest and detention of South Korean workers in Georgia last year and the Trump Administration's tariff policies as examples of actions that had undermined trust in U.S.-South Korea relations. Go said the immigration authorities' actions against the South Korean workers had negatively affected not only the United States' standing in the world but also the economic relationship between the two countries. Referring to the incident, he criticized the actions, saying, "It was dangerous for the United States' standing as a global leader and for our economic relationship, and the sudden tariffs imposed on an ally were disgraceful."

Asked about concerns that last year's agreement between the U.S. and South Korean leaders could be delayed in Congress, he said the agreement's terms and its impact on the alliance should be considered first. "I want any agreement to serve the U.S.-South Korea alliance's best interests," he said. Asked whether President Trump's policies could be considered in the alliance's interests, he replied, "I would like to say that President Trump's actions serve the alliance's best interests, but I have not seen that."

"Trump Respects North Korea More Than South Korea... He Wants to Learn How to Become a Dictator"

Go offered even sharper criticism of President Trump's efforts to engage in talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. He expressed skepticism that dialogue between North Korea and the United States would deliver tangible results for South Korea and the United States, and questioned President Trump's intentions.

"I do not believe that the president's intentions are benevolent or that they will produce a positive outcome for South Korea and the United States," he said. He went on to criticize President Trump for admiring Kim because he is a dictator, saying that Trump's greater admiration and respect for North Korea than for South Korea was troubling to the people of both countries. Go also said, "President Trump wants to learn how to become a dictator, and we should not play along with that game."

Plans to Check the Administration Through the House Oversight Committee and Seek U.S.-South Korea Cooperation

Go said he would actively work to check the Trump Administration in the next Congress. He named the House Oversight Committee as his preferred committee assignment and said he wanted to hold President Trump accountable. The Oversight Committee is a key congressional committee that investigates abuse of executive power and allegations of corruption.

He criticized President Trump for focusing on amassing personal wealth rather than addressing people's needs. He also expressed strong opposition to Stephen Miller, who has been selected as the new White House chief of staff, citing issues including immigration policy. "People are suffering because the president does not care for them. I want to work really hard to make sure that does not happen," Go said.

He also signaled plans to work with Korean American members of Congress. Go said he was discussing ways to cooperate with Democratic Congressman Andy Kim, the first Korean American to serve in the U.S. Senate, on legislation to improve U.S.-South Korea relations.

Go is the grandson of Dr. Kwanglim Koh, who was from Jeju. He was born to a Korean American father and a Lebanese American mother. His father, Howard Koh (Korean name Go Gyeongju), served as an assistant secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services during the Barack Obama Administration, while his uncle, Harold Hongju Koh (Korean name Go Hongju), served as dean of Yale Law School and legal adviser to the State Department. Go previously served as a deputy cabinet secretary at the White House and chief of staff at the Department of Labor during the Biden Administration.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.