Substance is more important than symbolism
The apparent appointment of Sung Kim, a Korean-American as the new U.S. ambassador to Korea has more symbolism than substance. His predecessor Kathleen Stephens was also a choice of symbolism rather than substance.
The appointee should add content to the Korea-U.S. alliance. The 51-year-old is a technocrat rather than a political heavyweight. The U.S. emigrant is Washington's expert on six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program.
His Korean heritage is both an asset and a liability. His appointment gives a sense of pride to Korean-Americans. He symbolizes the U.S. multiculturalism where talent, not racial background, is the key factor for success. He proved his talent as his career has been on fast-track even during the conservative Bush administration.
He will give Koreans a sense of comfort and ease, and sets a new milestone in the 129-year bilateral ties.
He has many issues to overcome during his service in Korea and so questions arise. The first is whether he has an easy access to the White House for sensitive and critical Korean issues. The next is how to manage the high Korean expectation that the American will better represent Korean interest.
Korea is still a seniority-based Confucian society where age is often placed above talent. His father's background is likely to be an on-and-off irritant. The senior Kim allegedly quit his public post as he was involved in the 1973 kidnapping of former President Kim Dae-jung in Tokyo. His wife might become an easy target of alumni marketing in Korea where school connections get priority beyond reason.
He assumes the post at a sensitive and crucial time when Korea and the United States are to hold presidential elections next year. China and Russia will see a transition of power next year. North Korea is to mark the centenary of the birth of its founder Kim Il-sung in 2012.
He should also play a leading role in easing tension on the Korean Peninsula. It is also true that Washington has been zigzaging in its North Korea policy in the past.
His ethnic background might give him little room for maneuver. It is questionable whether he can influence the White House in times of crisis on the Korean Peninsula. He is assuming the post at a time when bilateral relations are at their halcyon days.
Image and symbolism themselves should not overweigh professionalism, problem-solving talent and agenda-setting skills. Awaiting the appointee are many sensitive bilateral issues, including the smooth transfer of the U.S. wartime command to the South Korean military and North Korea's nuclear brinkmanship.
The outgoing envoy Kathleen Stephens impressed Koreans for her fluency in Korean, her Peace Corps background and her image as the ``neighborhood ajumma.'' She has overseen the signing of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement.
The ambassadorial post is not an elective one that must be blind to public opinion. Positive image and symbolism should not overshadow substance. The appointee’s success will be the pride of both the United States and Korea or vice versa.
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