U.S. President Donald Trump cast doubt on South Korea’s political stability Monday, just hours before meeting newly elected President Lee Jae-myung in Washington.
“WHAT IS GOING ON IN SOUTH KOREA? Seems like a Purge or Revolution,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account. “We can’t have that and do business there.”
South Korea’s presidential office told Yonhap News Agency it is reviewing the remarks.
Trump’s comments reflect the deep crisis gripping Seoul since former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment and removal from office. Yoon’s attempt to impose martial law in December 2024 sparked public outrage and months of political unrest.
Investigations into Yoon’s circle continue to widen. On Sunday, prosecutors sought an arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, accusing him of aiding Yoon’s martial law attempt and committing perjury. Han briefly served as acting president after Yoon’s ouster before stepping down to pursue an ill-fated presidential bid.
Yoon himself remains in detention on insurrection charges and now faces a new indictment that could extend his imprisonment by six months. His wife, Kim Keon-hee, was jailed earlier in August on charges of stock manipulation, bribery, and political meddling—making the pair the first former presidential couple in South Korea’s history to be incarcerated at the same time.
The Constitutional Court unanimously upheld Yoon’s impeachment on April 4, paving the way for a snap election on June 3 that brought Lee of the Democratic Party to power.
Lee’s visit marks his first trip to Washington since taking office 82 days ago. The White House summit will include a bilateral meeting and lunch, with talks expected to cover defense cost-sharing, tariff disputes, and security cooperation.
Lee has signaled he will push back on U.S. calls for greater “strategic flexibility” for the 28,500 American troops stationed in South Korea, describing the demand as difficult but unavoidable. He also plans to outline a three-stage denuclearization proposal for North Korea, urging Pyongyang to freeze, reduce, and ultimately dismantle its nuclear arsenal.