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| Donald Trump's popularity may be slipping in the United States, but it appears to be improving in South Korea. / AFP |
By Jung Min-ho
Few South Koreans were excited when Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton on Nov. 8 2016 to win the U.S. presidential election.
When Trump started to threaten to unleash "fire and fury" on North Korea over the regime's nuclear weapons program, South Koreans feared the worst and felt that good days under Barack Obama's peaceful leadership had gone.
But after the Trump administration's tough strategies involving "maximum pressure" brought North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to the negotiating table, many South Koreans' views about him ― and Obama ― have changed dramatically.
"Obama was a refined, articulate leader who did almost nothing to resolve important issues surrounding North Korea," an elementary school teacher in Seoul told The Korea Times.
"Trump may be less refined and often use coarse language, but it seems he is doing everything he can to resolve them. I did not like Trump at first, perhaps because how media represented him, but now I support him and his way of handling North Korea."
Following the successful inter-Korean summit on April 27, many South Koreans have shown their support for Trump, saying he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize even over their beloved President Moon Jae-in.
"Thanks to Trump, the divided Korea(s) is now paving the way for complete denuclearization and unification," a Korean netizen wrote. "He well deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. Thank you."
During his eight-year term, Obama maintained the policy of "strategic patience," which many people criticized for letting North Korea become a formidable nuclear power.
Trump took a different stance. He said "the era of strategic patience is over," and vehemently condemned North Korea's attempt to develop nuclear weapons capable of striking the heart of the U.S.
His aggressive posture sparked concerns among U.S. allies, including South Korea, and increased tension in the region. But the atmosphere began to change rapidly at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics three months ago.
"I have never thought Trump is a man of character, but he has done a great job so far," another Korean wrote on Twitter. "I think the fate of the Korean Peninsula would have been different if the Democratic Party won the presidential election."
President Moon also praised Trump a week ago, saying the Nobel Peace Prize should go to him, if anyone were to win it, for trying to resolve the issues with North Korea.
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