WASHINGTON — Freshly elected U.S. Representative Andy Koh of Massachusetts has emerged as a vocal critic of President Donald Trump's approach to the Indo-Pacific, warning that the administration's current trajectory undermines vital strategic ties with South Korea.

Appearing at Capitol Hill on Tuesday alongside the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Koh delivered pointed remarks concerning the future of the bilateral partnership. The newly minted congressman emphasized that Washington must treat its alliance with Seoul as absolute and unshakeable.

"The U.S.-South Korea alliance is a proud partnership and the foundational reason I stand before you today," Koh told reporters. However, he voiced sharp apprehension over executive policies, arguing that rhetoric targeting immigrants and singling out South Korea threatens America's economic stability and global leadership standing. He highlighted last year's controversial detention of South Korean nationals at a southeastern manufacturing plant as a troubling symptom of deteriorating diplomatic sensitivity.

Koh did not mince words regarding trade measures, describing unilateral tariff impositions on trusted allies as disgraceful. He vowed to work alongside congressional colleagues to repair diplomatic friction and rebuild the cooperative momentum achieved during prior administrations.

Drawing from his family's deep roots in Korean-American history—his grandfather, a Jeju native who immigrated in the 1950s, once envisioned a unified peninsula—Koh expressed skepticism regarding the White House's diplomatic strategy. He specifically rebuked presidential rhetoric praising foreign authoritarian figures, suggesting it signals a concerning misalignment of democratic values.

Furthermore, analyzing recent bilateral trade frameworks, Koh cautioned that the current administration appears to afford greater diplomatic deference to Pyongyang than to Seoul, a dynamic he called a legitimate cause for alarm among citizens of both nations.

Despite these geopolitical concerns, Koh expressed robust support for expanding future bilateral initiatives, including proposed joint ventures in naval defense technology and nuclear energy cooperation for submarine fleets. He also confirmed ongoing legislative coordination with Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey to champion policies strengthening democratic ties across the Pacific.

As he prepares to take office, Koh shared personal aspirations to return to his ancestral homeland alongside his young children, aiming to deepen cultural and diplomatic bridges established generations ago by his family of distinguished public servants and scholars.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]