SUMMIT Trump retracts ‘purge’ comment after Lee’s clarification

President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday (local time). AFP-Yonhap

U.S. President Donald Trump stepped back from diplomatic controversy Monday (local time), retracting comments that had questioned Korea’s political stability just hours before his first summit with President Lee Jae Myung in Washington.

Ahead of their talks, Trump stirred controversy by saying in a social media post that a “Purge or Revolution” was underway in Korea, suggesting that the United States would not conduct business there if those conditions persisted.

“WHAT IS GOING ON IN SOUTH KOREA? Seems like a Purge or Revolution. We can’t have that and do business there,” Trump wrote.

When asked about the post and the investigations reportedly targeting “churches and a U.S. military base” in Korea, Trump said intelligence briefings had informed him of church raids.

Lee clarified that a recent special prosecutor’s search-and-seizure ― part of an investigation into an attempted coup in Korea ― was conducted strictly within the Korean jurisdiction of a jointly operated military base.

This came after a raid conducted by investigators on July 21 at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek which is operated together by the two allies. Investigators looking into allegations tied to former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration in December focused on the Korean Air Force’s Master Control and Reporting Center, seeking evidence related to an alleged drone infiltration across the inter-Korean border.

On July 18, another investigation team targeting military corruption allegations conducted search and seizure operations at the residence of Pastor Lee Young-hoon, the senior pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church, as well as the board chairman’s office of the church. Earlier this month, police also searched Sarang Jeil Church, a large church led by Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon, in connection with a violent disturbance at Seoul Western District Court in January.

“So, it hasn’t been long since Korea overcame the political turmoil following the coup [attempt] by the former president. Currently, there is a fact-finding investigation by a special prosecutor appointed by the National Assembly. And that special prosecutor is not under my control,” Lee said. “It seems that the investigators did not try to inspect anything regarding the U.S. military but to look into the control system of the Korean military on the base.”

After Lee’s explanation, Trump responded by saying, “I am sure it’s a misunderstanding, but you know, there is a rumor going around about churches, raiding churches, so we’ll talk ― I’m sure that’s going to be worked out fine.”

At a private meeting held later, Trump again raised questions with Lee about ongoing investigations involving the former president and his wife, according to Kang Yu-jung, the president’s spokesperson.

“Lee was asked about the status of the Yoon couple’s case. As he explained, he just said they are being investigated by the special prosecutor,” she said.

The social media post by Trump stoked concerns in Korea ahead of the high-stakes meeting.

Asked about the post by a lawmaker at the National Assembly, Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho said he felt that Trump may have had a skewed perception of the Korean president.

“I have long felt that Trump and other leaders in Washington seem to have a rather distorted perception of President Lee,” he said. “Although I cannot disclose specifics publicly, I have continuously communicated with numerous contacts across Washington, and I have made considerable efforts to actively clarify.”