South Korea’s top envoy to the United States on Tuesday described the two countries’ decadesold partnership as an “alliance in every aspect of life,” as he pointed to deepening bilateral economic and cultural engagement beyond their military cooperation.

Ambassador Cho Hyun-dong underscored the evolvement of the alliance during the Korean Night Reception, an annual event hosted by the Korea Corporate Members (KCM) of AUSA (Association of the United States Army), an organization dedicated to promoting friendship with former and current U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) service members.

Among the participants were former USFK commanders, including retired Gen. John Tilelli, Gen. Walter Sharp, Gen. James Thurman, Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti and Gen. Robert Abrams.

“We are becoming an alliance and allies in every aspect of life,” Cho said.

South Korean Ambassador Cho Hyun-dong speaks during a reception at the South Korean Embassy in Washington on Oct. 15, 2024. (Yonhap)

South Korean Ambassador Cho Hyun-dong speaks during
a reception at the South Korean Embassy in Washington on Oct. 15, 2024. (Yonhap)

He added, “Every day, I realize that between our two countries, between our two peoples, they are becoming more and more connected and intertwined. I will continue to do my best to promote our alliance.”

Pointing to South Korean chipmakers’ investments in the U.S., Cho described the two countries’ partnership as an “economic alliance.”

“Now the Korean investment is reviving the semiconductor production ecosystem in the U.S., which is truly becoming an economic alliance,” he said.

He also said that the two countries’ relationship is becoming a “cultural alliance,” as he noted growing cultural exchanges and highlighted the fact that almost 10 percent of Netflix content is Korean-made.

During the reception, KCM conferred a certificate of appreciation for an “unforgettable friend” on former USFK Commander Thurman and former 2nd Infantry Division Commander John Wood for their contributions to the alliance.

Thurman said that his
time in Korea was the “best assignment.”

“I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to serve in the Republic of Korea,” he said. “You’ve got a great country, got great people and the friends are for lifetime.”

KCM has hosted the reception annually in the U.S. capital in time for an annual AUSA conference.

Source: Yonhap News Agency