Trump shows ignorance on Korea issues

By Um Joon-ho

First of all, I would like to say that for someone who has graduated from my alma mater, Donald Trump shows a level of ignorance on Korean issues that is frankly shocking, to say the least. I believe either he, or his advisers, are out of touch with any key issues related to Korea or know the real answers but are simply trying to inflame and ignite Trump’s main support base in a time of economic difficulty for the average American population.

Soon after Japan was defeated at the end of World War II, Korea was suddenly a liberated nation. However, the natural cultural tendency of Koreans at that time was, for a lack of a better word, socialist. After all, Koreans were mostly agrarian, and socialism appeals to purely agrarian societies. In light of this background, political elements in the North were gaining ground on the back of Russian- and Chinese- supported communism.

This was something the United States, as one of the clear victors in the war, could not afford to allow across the entire peninsula. That key point is the reason, and the beginning of the American involvement in Korea. In other words, our involvement began as an ideological fight against communism and had very little to do with trade and commerce. Many people forget that Korea was poor back then and looked nothing like today's confident and modern Korea.

Today, South Korea with its fair share of flaws, is the most successful involvement of the United States in achieving a truly amazing increase in living standards and modernization. South Korea is unique in achieving an incredible level of success at breakneck speed, even going from donation receiver to donor nation in the U.N. Not all nations that received help from the U.S. can say that. In fact, Korea is unique in that sense and shows how hard the average Korean people worked in order to achieve this tremendous level of success.

And South Korea is a loyal friend of the U.S. in many aspects of security alliances throughout the world. Korea has an FTA with the U.S. and is a vibrant trade partner. Korea is among the top-five purchasers of defense weapons in the world often, and buys mostly from the U.S. (2012 data shows close to 80 percent from the U.S.). And South Korea shares the costs of a U.S. military presence on the Korean Peninsula, which is not simply for the good of Koreans, but for the ability of the U.S. to exert influence in a key part of the world in Asia and present checks and balances against many other powerful nations.

The relationship between South Korea and the United States is a mutually beneficial friendship that is developing into a stronger and mature relationship. With such a commendable background, it is hurtful that the Trump candidacy, with all its merits, is disappointingly missing the key points of a uniquely successful relationship built over 70-plus years. South Korea deserves the kind of respect deserved by the truest friends and not the demagogue type of remarks to quickly gather the support of an innocent support base that is unaware of the full facts.

I am forever an optimist and hope his team will advise him properly on Korea issues as he seems to have a strong support base and is likely to remain a viable candidate in the race for president.

The writer is a U.S. citizen who graduated from the Wharton School and worked in the financial field for more than 20 years and was head of Asia for Steel Partners until 2008. He is raising a family in the U.S. His email address is Joonho.um.wh92@wharton.upenn.edu.