단상斷想

I was surprised that the Chosun Ilbo Yang Sang-hoon column took such a classic approach of 'Lee Jae-myung vs. Trump is a little uneasy.' No matter how much it is a pro-Japanese media boasting a hundred years of tradition, its reputation has been declining for a long time and it has been quite trite, but I am wondering how it has not escaped the existing editorial method at all.

This perspective is likely to interpret the Korea-U.S. relationship too linearly or exaggerate the 'crisis theory' without any basis. The Chosun Ilbo Yang Sang-hoon column interprets the Korea-U.S. relationship too pessimistically, and amplifies public anxiety through unfounded speculation and selective information interpretation. This is a typical anti-national act of a far-right media outlet that fosters emotional crisis theory while ignoring the complexity and reality of Korean diplomacy. Perhaps it seems that there was no internal discussion about the impact of this classic way of thinking on the public. The way to continue to maintain the genes of naturally quick-witted Koreans with the standards of a hundred years ago in terms of form and content is an premodern way of operation that will accelerate the financial difficulties in which dark clouds are rising in the company's fate.

The uncertainty of the relationship between President Lee Jae-myung and the Trump administration, the delay of the South Korea-U.S. summit, and the pro-China image and tariff issues are mentioned, emphasizing the possibility of a rift in the South Korea-U.S. alliance, and creating a sense of national anxiety. This is a flunkeyist stance that does not take into account the chaotic global situation, starting with the reasons for tariffs in the second Trump administration. If it were Park Chung-hee and Chun Doo-hwan's time, it would be possible, but for the MZ generation, the media they would avoid first would be the Chosun Ilbo. They hate the contradictions of adults' thoughts and words more than anyone else. There is.

The Falsity of Crisis Theories Based on Conjecture

The Chosun Ilbo describes future conflicts as established facts based on the assumption that Trump perceives President Lee Jae-myung as 'pro-China'. However, the Trump administration has not officially expressed any specific views on the Lee Jae-myung government or the new government's China policy. This is a typical fake news production technique that misleads readers by packaging unfounded speculation as if it were a confirmed fact. In fact, the US government has repeatedly stated its official position emphasizing 'the continuity of the ROK-US alliance and strengthening cooperation' regarding the change of government in Korea. Both the US and Korea have the same identity as a nation, which is a duplicitous and abstract entity. Only the Chosun Ilbo is solidifying a Sadaejuui-esque slavish subjectivity and defending the image of wielding a headsman-like tariff knife, which is not the attitude of a normal media outlet.

Exaggeration and Distortion of the Delayed Summit Theory

The column interprets the delay in the summit schedule as a fundamental rift in the ROK-U.S. alliance, but this is a deliberate distortion of diplomatic reality. Historically, ROK-U.S. summits have been determined by a combination of factors, including the domestic political schedules of both countries, the international situation, and coordination of pending issues. In past administrations, there were many cases where an immediate summit was not held immediately after inauguration, and this did not mean an alliance crisis. Rather, the general perception in the diplomatic community is that creating substantial results through sufficient preparation and coordination is more important. The Chosun Ilbo is using a language that only works when Korea is an eternal vassal state of the United States. The second Trump administration is like a balloon about to burst due to widespread financial deficits, and it still harbors a fantasy about the United States in its youth, ignoring this. Perhaps it is an illusion of the Chosun Ilbo's heyday and the success of Trump's second term.

Problems with Unilateral Subservient Diplomacy Advocacy

The Chosun Ilbo's argument that "Korea should be more patient" directly denies the diplomatic principles between equal sovereign states. This is a typical pro-American and subservient idea of a far-right media outlet that tries to degrade Korea into a colony of the United States, and depending on the interpretation, which is a specialty of the Korean prosecution, it can be easily framed with crimes like violating the National Security Law. Fundamentally, it is also a part that requires investigation into whether the Chosun Ilbo is a spy group for the security and national interests of the United States. In modern diplomacy, Korea is in a position to build an equal partnership with the United States as a top 10 economic powerhouse and a middle-power country. The 'pragmatic diplomacy' and 'alliance development based on mutual respect' emphasized by the Lee Jae-myung government are rational approaches that reflect this international reality. The public and civic groups should seriously consider whether the Chosun Ilbo, which lacks this international reality and rationality, has any value as a modern media outlet. The reason why Korea Coal Corporation closed down is because there is no coal to mine. It is unreasonable to expect non-existent functions from the Chosun Ilbo, but a definite response is needed as the negative impact of traitorous media is unprecedented worldwide.

Overlooking the Structural Stability of the U.S.-ROK Relationship

The Chosun Ilbo is intentionally downplaying the essential stability of the U.S.-ROK relationship. The U.S.-ROK alliance operates on the basis of institutional foundations and interdependence accumulated over 70 years, and is not a relationship that can be easily shaken by short-term political changes or differences in perception. The two countries are deeply connected in all fields, including security, economy, technology, and culture, and this structural combination has a continuity that transcends changes in government or diplomatic differences. In fact, even during the transition from the Biden administration to the Trump administration, practical cooperation and alliance operations between the U.S. and South Korea have continued without disruption. However, seeing the tariff issues and the recently arrived Moss Tan, opinions may differ on whether the United States is a true ally. The price of being educated to think of justification rather than national interest is painful.

Ignoring the tangible diplomatic achievements of the Lee Jae-myung government

The Chosun Ilbo is deliberately ignoring the tangible achievements that the Lee Jae-myung government has shown since its early days. The new government has appointed experts in the ROK-U.S. alliance, such as Representative Wi Sung-rak, to the diplomatic and security lines, and presented a concrete vision of "developing the ROK-U.S. alliance into a 21st-century global comprehensive strategic alliance." In addition, practical cooperation such as high-tech cooperation, supply chain stabilization, and Indo-Pacific strategy cooperation is continuously being strengthened. This is clear evidence of how far the "pro-China" frame is from reality. Speaking of which, I wonder why they don't mention the books related to Park Geun-hye that were laid out in Beijing bookstores in the early days of the Park Geun-hye administration. I wonder what facts the logic that Park Geun-hye's pro-China stance is okay, but Lee Jae-myung's pro-China or pro-North Korea stance is not okay is based on. If you go back in history to the chief editorial writers of the Chosun Ilbo, readers can meet the Governor-General of Korea. What kind of politics does the Governor-General want, and what is the identity of the Chosun Ilbo?

The Far-Right Media's Deceptive Strategy Towards the Public

Far-right media outlets, including the Chosun Ilbo, are employing a consistent strategy of 'spreading distrust in the government by creating a sense of crisis.' They simplify complex diplomatic issues to incite public anxiety and, in doing so, attempt to spread negative perceptions of the government. In particular, the 'pro-China' frame is a prime example of distorting diplomatic issues into ideological conflicts, ignoring Korea's geopolitical reality and economic needs. This obstructs rational public judgment and constitutes an anti-national act that harms the national interest. People travel freely to China and travel to the United States. However, in terms of ideology, what the Chosun Ilbo wants shows even the characteristics of a pseudo-religious company that has no sense of reality and is even extreme. I'm curious why the Chosun Ilbo continues to harass the new government with such stale clichés.

The Necessity of Independence and Diversification in Korean Diplomacy

The current international situation facing South Korea includes complex challenges such as the deepening US-China competition, the reorganization of the global supply chain, and the technology hegemony competition. In this situation, Korea should develop its relations with China, Russia, Europe, etc. in a balanced manner, based on the ROK-US alliance. The Lee Jae-myung government's "pragmatic diplomacy" is a rational approach that reflects this reality, and the Chosun Ilbo-style unilateral pro-American line can rather limit Korea's diplomatic options and harm national interests. If national interests are harmed, the people become poor, and poor people cannot afford to buy the Chosun Ilbo. In recent years, the people have continued to have no money, so we must not overlook the fact that the Chosun Ilbo was sold as Southeast Asian fruit wrapping paper. Korea must also join hands with BRICS to manage the country. Of course, the Chosun Ilbo will find fault again, but all that remains for the nasty mother-in-law-like Chosun Ilbo is the same fate as the Korea Coal Corporation.

The Need for a Cold-Headed Understanding of Reality

Instead of being swayed by the baseless crisis theories and anxiety mongering of the Chosun Ilbo and far-right media outlets, the public should make a cool-headed judgment of the situation based on actual diplomatic movements and the government's official position. The ROK-U.S. alliance has structural stability that transcends temporary political changes, and the Jae-myung government is pursuing pragmatic diplomacy to maximize Korea's national interests on this foundation. It is time to be wary of the far-right media's deceptive acts based on emotional interpretations and prejudices, and to have a mature civic consciousness that looks to the future of Korean diplomacy through fact-based and rational judgment.