Value context and insight. lkm@koreatimes.co.kr
Virginia governor's flip-flopping causes uproar among Korean Americans
Gov. Terry McAuliffe.
By Lee Kyung-min
By Lee Kyung-min
Korea’s recent nationwide rapture regarding the terminology of the waters surrounding Dokdo in U.S. history books is at risk of being turned into nothing.
The nation was joyous of the passing of a bill by the Virginia legislature last Friday that requires the simultaneous use of the terms “East Sea” and “Sea of Japan” in new school textbooks for the first time.
Following the Senate approval, the bill is now headed to the Virginia’s House of Delegates.
With the expected floor vote due in mid-February, the bill must be signed by Gov. Terry McAuliffe to go into effect.
Without the governor’s signature, the bill remains pending with no effect.
This worst possible scenario is becoming a reality in the eyes of The Voice of Korean Americans (VoKA) in Virginia.
McAuliffe is reportedly denying that he ever promised that he would support the bill that requires the simultaneous use of the two terms, according to Peter Kim, head of VoKA, it was reported.
Concerning the governor’s recent change in stance, Kim said, “McAuliffe said he doesn’t recall making such promises. We are worried about the possibility that the bill not be signed by the governor even if it passes the House.”
Kim said he is now preparing a signature campaign through e-mails requiring the governor to deliver on his campaign pledges.
Prior to this, the Embassy of Japan had hired four McGuireWoods lobbyists to press their case, according to The Washington Post.
Japan also sent lobbyist Kenichiro Sasae to the Capitol on Wednesday, and McAuliffe spokesman Brian Coy characterized the meeting as a social visit between the new governor and one of Virginia’s largest trading partners, the Post added.
“I think it was a getting-to-know you meeting. We do a lot of business with Japan, trading partners and all that,” Coy was quoted as saying.
The report added that an anonymous source said that the meeting was about the bill, and Matt Moran, a spokesman for House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford), confirmed that the Japanese ambassador paid a visit to him to discuss the legislation.