Youngnam Kim

Frank Jannuzi, President of the Mansfield Foundation, has raised concerns over South Korea’s political instability, warning that its leadership vacuum is affecting diplomatic engagement with the United States. Jannuzi noted that as Donald Trump begins his second term, South Korea’s absence from key discussions on tariffs, shipbuilding contracts, and alliance burden-sharing is a growing issue.

A record 110 Korean American elected officials are currently serving across the United States, according to data compiled by the Korean American Grassroots Conference (KAGC) based on the November 2024 election results. The organization released a full list on March 7, detailing the elected officials’ districts and political affiliations.

Potential Conflicts Regardless of Election Outcome Andrew Yeo, the Korea Chair at the Brookings Institution, has warned that regardless of which party’s candidate wins a potential early presidential election following a successful impeachment, tensions between South Korea and the United States could arise. “If Democratic Party candidates like Lee Jae-myung win the election, some friction could emerge,” Yeo said.