Ambassador Thomas C. Hubbard
On the Occasion of the 53rd
Anniversary of the Fulbright Program in Korea
April 28, 2003
Ambassador Lee, Chairman Ro, Dr. Underwood, Dr. Hahn, Dr. Yoon, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much for inviting me to be with you this evening. It is a pleasure to address the members of the Korean-American Educational Commission, the Korea Fulbright Foundation, and the Korea Fulbright Alumni Association on this important anniversary for both of our countries.
Through the Fulbright program, thousands of Koreans and Americans have not only broadened their intellectual horizons through academic study in each other's countries, they have been key contributors to increasing mutual understanding between our countries. I congratulate each and every one of you for the work you have done and continue to do to strengthen Korean-American friendship. Tonight, I'd like to take this opportunity to explain my views on the unique relationship between the U.S. and Korea and why I think our ties continue to be so important not only for each of our countries, but also for Northeast Asia, and the world.
In this year that will witness both the fiftieth anniversary of the armistice halting the Korean War and the fiftieth anniversary of the U.S.-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty, we have many opportunities to reflect on our shared history. It is a history punctuated by the blood, sweat, toil, and tears of millions of Koreans and thousands of Americans and others from around the world who fought to defend freedom on this soil. But this is a relationship that rests as much on the future as on the past. Our future involves defending what we fought together for. It also rests on working together to reap the benefits of freedom, democracy, and open, market-based economies.
The hopes that the Korean people and their friends in the United States held fifty years ago for a brighter future based on freedom have been realized in ways that no one could have imagined. More and more so with each passing year, the freedom and prosperity of each of our peoples reinforce each other.
The veterans who will arrive here this year to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the armistice will shake their heads in amazement at the transformation of Korea from an impoverished and war-torn country to a prosperous and thoroughly modern one. Their grandchildren drive Korean cars and watch movies on Korean-made televisions and video players without even realizing what a story of success these represent. At the same time, the grandchildren of the ROK soldiers who fought fifty years ago surf the internet on cell phones that use software developed in the U.S. and enjoy a fine cut of American beef for dinner.
Both of our economies have also grown and prospered due to our shared commitment to a particular aspect of freedom: the ability to trade goods and services freely. The security provided by our alliance created the conditions for economic growth, but much more had to be done to make Korea the 12th largest economy in the world. The economic miracle of Korea was made possible by years of hard work by Koreans in factories and on construction sites, as well as in boardrooms and offices. By adopting policies that allow an ever freer movement of capital, goods, and services, Korea will provide an example to other nations of how to develop an economy from one of the poorest to one of the richest.
Recognizing Korea's example, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development invited Korea to join the U.S. and the twenty-nine other leading market economies in setting standards for the globalized economy. Seeking to further expand opportunity for our economies, Korea and the U.S. are working together to broaden and deepen the freedom to buy and sell goods and services worldwide through the Doha Development Agenda of the World Trade Organization.
Of course, the blessings of freedom and the free market that the U.S. and Korea share bring more than just an opportunity to exchange goods and services. Our people are also able to move freely back and forth. Hundreds of thousands of Koreans and Americans study, work, visit families, and take tours in each other's countries.
You are all here because you took the opportunity to attend American universities and, upon your return, to share the knowledge and experience you gained with a new generation of Koreans. Twenty-five members of my American diplomatic staff are children of immigrants to the United States and every day we meet ethnic Koreans, born in the U.S., who have returned to contribute to the land of their parents.
Earlier this year we celebrated the 100th Anniversary of Korean Immigration to the U.S. I had the privilege to mark the occasion by presenting immigrant visas to a Korean family who decided to move to the U.S. to seek new opportunities there. Their children may well return here as American diplomats or businessmen.
The movement of people between our countries strengthens each of us because when people move, they bring new ideas with them. All of you in this room know this very well, as you have been some of the best examples of this sharing of ideas. In free countries such as Korea and the U.S., these ideas can take root and lead to remarkable improvements for the whole society. For example, companies staffed by numerous immigrants are developing the technologies of the 21st century in Silicon Valley and other U.S. technology hubs. In Korea, innovators in many fields have received part of their education or conducted research in the U.S., bringing back to Korea ideas for new products or businesses. These contributions can help make Korea the economic hub of Northeast Asia, as envisioned by President Roh and his administration.
While Korea and America have profited greatly from our fifty-year long friendship, more recently our relationship has extended beyond our purely bilateral concerns. Korea and the U.S. have both supported the United Nations effort, a very successful one I might add, to maintain peace and nurture the birth of a new democracy in East Timor. Korea has put the lives of its soldiers at risk and, tragically, lost four of them in the effort. We salute their sacrifice in the cause of peace and our hearts go out to their families.
Last year, when a coalition led by the U.S. moved to root out the terrorist regime of the Taliban in Afghanistan, Korea joined the effort by supplying engineers and medical support, aircraft and naval transport, and aid to affected countries. Korea has joined the war against terrorism on many fronts. We cooperate in shutting down financial support for terror, screening cargo that might hide weapons or agents of terror, and sharing information on those we suspect of being terrorists. Both our nations recognize that terrorism is a threat to democratic states and market economies throughout the world, as it undermines peace and promotes fear, causing both political and economic damage in addition to the human cost in lives lost.
This month, Korea joined the international coalition against the regime in Iraq. An advance Korean military team has already arrived in the area, and we are thankful for Korea's help in restoring hope to the people of Iraq. As you know, President Bush has personally thanked President Roh for his political courage in supporting the deployment of Korean soldiers to Iraq. I have no doubt that the work your soldiers will do for the Iraqi people will bear fruit, as have the efforts of those who came to defend Korea years ago.
Of course, even while we cooperate in the war on terror and in returning peace and stability to Iraq, we are bringing the ROK-U.S. alliance into the 21st Century. Our defense ministers agreed to launch a study of the Future of the Alliance last December, and officials from both governments are already well on their way to producing a blueprint for modernizing and strengthening the alliance.
This initiative will explore the new challenges and opportunities that our military alliance will face in this new century. One of these challenges is the changing environment, including increasing urbanization, in which our forces here operate. This has prompted us to explore how best to adjust our base footprint and invest in an enduring alliance. As we consider realignments to ensure a sustainable and efficient presence, we will be looking at ways to restructure and consolidate USFK facilities, including adjusting and accelerating the return of land to the Korean government under the Land Partnership Plan. Together with the South Korean government, we are also committed to relocating the Yongsan Garrison out of Seoul as soon as possible to eliminate inconveniences to Seoul citizens and to provide a stable stationing environment for USFK.
Nothing has been decided yet, but two things are certain. First, this is a joint process, and all decisions will be reached only after careful bilateral coordination and consultation. The other point is equally important: this process will strengthen, not weaken, our deterrent.
Sadly, I can't make a speech like this without discussing North Korea. North Korea's nuclear weapons programs, its conventional threat to South Korea, and the appalling way the North Korean regime treats its people pose tremendous challenges to both of us. Unfortunately, recent talks in Beijing did not greatly advance our common cause, but they did make clear our mutual interest in working together.
As we explore ways to resolve the challenge posed by North Korea, we are mindful that it is the Republic of Korea and its people who would have the most to lose if war were to break out again on the Peninsula. That's why my government is convinced that, even as we maintain our military deterrence, this issue should be resolved peacefully and through multilateral diplomacy. And for multilateral diplomacy to be successful it is essential that South Korea be at the table.
While the challenges that we face together in the next fifty years are different from those we faced in our first fifty years of partnership, we approach them as two peoples who, regardless of their age, birthplace, or culture, have a stake in freedom, peace, and prosperity. It is those things that will serve as the glue that keeps our partnership together and strong.
Thank you.