Roundtable Security ensured on Korean Peninsula
From left, French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) Chairman David-Pierre Jalicon; European Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ECCK) President Christoph Heider; Chairman & CEO of AMCHAM James Kim pose with Foreign Investor Ombudsman Jeffrey I. Kim and The Korea Times chief editorial writer Oh Young-jin before the Times Roundtable on Korea's business environment. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
The U.S.- North Korea standoff is sending military tensions high on the Korean Peninsula. Although Korea is often portrayed to be ground for an imminent battle, foreign investors here say this is not the case. They say they are not alarmed and the situation is close to business as usual. So The Korea Times invited them to speak about what they are up to nowadays.
By James Kim
As a Korean-American businessperson living in Korea and given my position as Chairman & CEO of AMCHAM, I am frequently asked about the escalating tensions from North Korea. Interestingly, such inquiries come with much seriousness and concerns from my friends and colleagues outside of Korea. People elsewhere seem to believe that all of us here in Korea live in a constant state of fear. I always assure them that is not the case.
For those of us familiar with constant noise from North Korea, neither the latest rhetoric from the North nor President Trump's responses have created any significant or new concerns. The readiness of the U.S. and Korean militaries to “fight tonight” is a strong deterrent against any action by the North against South Korea, Guam or any other allies of the U.S. We are also confident that the U.S. and South Korea will refrain from taking any action deemed to be a pre-emptive strike unless there is certainty that it will result in minimal damage to South Korea and its allies. We are assured by our two Commanders-in-Chief, President Trump and President Moon, who have also reaffirmed their commitments to the Seoul-Washington alliance, bolstering our joint defensive posture.
As long as we have the brave U.S. forces stationed in Korea, I will continue to be confident and comfortable living in Korea. I am honored to have had frequent contact with General Vincent Brooks. His confidence as the Commander of the United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/United States Forces Korea and his commitment to the continued security of the Korean peninsula are the bedrock of assurance for all of us. We have a strong set of leaders in U.S. governmental organizations and the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, led by our Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, Marc Knapper. Furthermore, there are several services that ensure the safety of U.S. citizens residing in Seoul, such as the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program which provides important information about safety conditions and prompt communication at times of possible unrest. At present, there is no concern about any escalation or threat to the residents of Seoul. AMCHAM plans to continue its close coordination with the Embassy by hosting an informational session on these safety measures in the near future.
There is no significant harm to our member companies’ day-to-day operations or any anticipation on the appearance of such threats. The deterrent strength and readiness of the U.S. and Korean armed forces sufficiently ensure that the current climate is not cause for concern for the ongoing success of our member companies.
James Kim is chairman & CEO of AMCHAM.