'Championing justice, human rights and good values still in US interests'

Morse Tan, former ambassador-at-large for Global Criminal Justice in the U.S. Department of State, poses on the steps of Congress in Washington, May 3, after the 2025 Capitol Forum concluded. Courtesy of organizers

WASHINGTON — Morse Tan, a former ambassador-at-large for Global Criminal Justice in the U.S. Department of State during President Donald Trump's first administration, recalled that the nature of his office at that time had limitations in talking about his work on genocides, war crimes and crimes against humanity globally and in specialized regions like North Korea.

"In fact, there was one time at a conference at Maryland, different bureaucrats were worried that I would make U.S. policy public through my prayers. So I wasn't even allowed to pray freely," Tan said, laughing. The 51-year-old is a devout Christian known for not skipping prayers.

A 1.5-generation Korean American (he left Seoul at the age of 2), his office within the State Department dealt with mass atrocities and provided advice on how to address injustices around the globe to the secretary of state. It is an office not commonly seen in other countries' foreign ministries, dedicated to pursuing justice and addressing injustices. While he could not go into detail, he said he did what he could to advance the situation in North Korea, such as helping the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor implement a $10 million budget to send information into North Korea. His office also worked to invite North Korean defectors, such as Ji Sung-ho, to highlight North Korean human rights issues.

These days, as a senior executive director for the Center for Law and Government at Liberty University, the well-known North Korea and international criminal law expert tries to increase the Korean American community's awareness of human rights issues in North Korea and around unification.

In his role as ambassador-at-large, he said he was exposed to classified information that changed his worldview.

"You cannot see the world the same as before," Tan said.

In an interview on the sidelines of the 2025 Capitol Forum held May 3, Tan forecast that human rights will remain an important part of the agenda for President Donald Trump in his second term. Tan pointed out that during the 2018 Singapore Summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the second-most-important point talked about was human rights issues.

"And a lot of people don't even realize that in addition to that, he actually featured (North Korean defector) Ji Sung-ho in the State of the Union address," Tan said.

Having visited South Korea recently, Tan also spoke about popular perceptions of the U.S. president in South Korea, stating that Trump's actions and words in his first term showed that he has human rights on his agenda. "It has to be understood in the context of the negotiation that he was having with Kim Jong-un," he said.

Asked whether other global issues, such as the war in the Middle East, the Ukraine war and tariffs, were distracting Trump's attention away from North Korea, Tan agreed. Yet at the same time, the former ambassador said that human rights remain on Trump's watch list. "I don't know if you've noticed during the State of the Union address made, Trump was talking about how he was going to talk about tariffs even with friends and he said that right after mentioning South Korea. So in other words, he's saying South Korea is a friend, an ally. ... I think that's important to note."

He addressed concerns in South Korea about the Korea-U.S. alliance becoming strained over such issues as tariffs and the possibility that Seoul will have to cover more of the cost-sharing for stationing approximately 28,500 U.S. soldiers in South Korea.

"I hear a lot of concern in South Korea about the alliance and the friendship with the U.S. I don't think that's true at all. It is 100 percent false to think that. ... I think the U.S. Trump administration has no intention to break the alliance, break the friendship or break the defense treaty that it has with South Korea," Tan said. "But that does not mean that he's still not moving forward with the tariffs."

Tan added, "I think it's a misinterpretation of the tariffs to think that they're just set in stone and there is nothing that could be done about it. It's all part of a bigger negotiation, and so I think that needs to be understood."

Tan noted that Hyundai Motor is moving ahead with plans to build a plant in the U.S. state of Georgia, also having tapped former U.S. ambassador to Korea, Sung Kim as CEO.

Regarding Trump's request that South Korea take part in the Alaska liquefied natural gas project, Tan said, "Infrastructure returns multiples on what is invested. Usually, it is also a smart security move." He further noted that the steel, semiconductors and automobiles sectors could provide a win-win for both South Korea and the United States in tariff negotiations.

Asked what would convey the real, essential Trump to Korean audiences, Tan mentioned Trump spoke at the South Korean National Assembly during his first term.

Tan, whose family roots extend to North Korea, said he would be eager and willing to serve in the second Trump administration, working on North Korea issues or those affecting the whole of the Korean Peninsula.

“What I would do initially in a second Trump administration would be to do whatever I can to help the Korean Peninsula,” he said.

Tan, as a legal expert, has a plan in mind to address justice after the potential unification of the two Koreas. "There would be a hybrid tribunal that is part domestic and part international that could deal with the worst offenders of human rights and worst atrocities. Then, a second level where the Korean domestic judiciary that will deal with a large middle category of offenders and the third tier of those who have done the least serious offenses," he said. He added that the plan could involve a truth and reconciliation commission to get more facts, all the while helping to rebuild North Korea.

The current geopolitical landscape is volatile as the U.S. and China square off. With an ever-increasing amount of hybrid warfare, such as cyberattacks, election interference and espionage, dividing people, Tan stressed that South Korea should be aware of these conflicts. Nevertheless, the former ambassador — whose profession exposed him to a world far removed from that of ordinary people — embraces civic engagement in his personal life and, as a deeply committed Christian, advocates for what he sees as the good and morally upright path.

"I think it is very much in the interests of the United States of America to be the champion of justice, human rights and good values around the world ... such things are good things in and of themselves inherently, intrinsically, and this is always a good thing for everyone all around the world and therefore should be championed," he said.