Takeaway 1. President Lee Jae Myung: The Winner of the August 25 Summit with Trump
The biggest takeaway from the summit is clear: President Lee Jae Myung emerged as the victor. Washington and its far-right coalition in the U.S. and Korea had sought to derail him, and while Trump ratcheted up pre-summit tension to maximize the impact of reconciliation, their efforts ultimately failed. Washington was unable to defeat Lee.
Despite Donald Trump's social media broadside just hours earlier—speculating about a “purge or revolution” in Seoul—there is little doubt that President Lee Jae-myung weathered the storm. The newly elected South Korean president took office after a tumultuous period of martial law and an insurrection crisis, adding another chapter to his long history of survival. He is a man who has endured persecution from his predecessor Yoon, hundreds of raids from prosecutors, and even an assassination attempt. Despite vigorous efforts from officials in both the Biden and Trump administrations, as well as the U.S.–Korea far-right coalition, Koreans elected Lee.
What Washington truly fears is the Korean people’s capacity for mass mobilization, epitomized by the Candlelight Revolution—the Revolution of Light—that has repeatedly ousted autocratic leaders by bringing millions into the streets. This fear is not abstract. During tariff negotiations, the Korean negotiating team reportedly showed a photo of millions of citizens protesting, a gesture that left a strong impression on Trump's team. Washington cannot afford to have anti-American sentiment among Koreans, as the relationship is simply too important.
American media described the August 25 summit vividly. Analysts aptly characterized the sequence as “damage-control diplomacy,” and one op-ed summed it up as “South Korea’s very good days in the Oval Office.” Tim Shorrock, an American journalist who has covered Korea for decades, commented, "I began to appreciate that the Korean president had lived up to his reputation as the ultimate pragmatist. Plus, he had managed to take the air out of Trump’s threatening posts and comments by celebrating his country’s hard-won democracy and defending South Korea’s sovereignty."
A poll found that 60.7% of Koreans believe the summit produced successful results, with accomplishments identified as economic cooperation, a personal trust between the two leaders, U.S.–North Korea dialogue and peace initiatives on the Korean Peninsula, and the U.S.–Japan–Korea alliance.
Takeaway 2: President Lee Used the North Korea Card to His Advantage
Pyongyang is now acknowledged as a strategic state and a potential nuclear power. Under Trump’s “multipolar” order, it has emerged as a decisive factor in great-power security bargaining, with an international stature higher than many assume. The astute and pragmatic President Lee knows this and used it to his advantage. While Washington uses the nuclear issue as political theater, President Lee exploited Trump’s interest in North Korea.
During the summit, President Lee said of inter-Korean relations: “If President Trump plays the role of peacemaker, I will do my best to support as a pacemaker,” proposing that Trump pursue a meeting with Chairman Kim Jong-un.
In response, Trump remarked, “I had a very good relationship with Kim Jong-un, as you remember, and still do.” He continued, “I’d like to meet him this year. We can make big progress with North Korea—absolutely. We can’t let nuclear weapons proliferate. The power is too great.” Interestingly, Trump never mentioned North Korea's denuclearization, not once, marking a shift from decades of demands for “complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization.”
With regard to China, both Trump and Lee avoided harsh rhetoric. Lee’s charm offensive also influenced Trump to refrain from making hawkish and anti-China remarks. In response to his right-wing critics in the United States and South Korea, Lee also defended his commitment to maintaining excellent and constructive relations with China. “There’s no such thing as pro-China or anti-China in diplomacy,” he said. “If closer ties serve our national interest, we pursue them. If not, we keep our distance.”
The Next Step: President Lee Should Attend China's Victory Day Celebration
Given that leaders from North Korea and Russia are set to attend China's victory day celebrations, President Lee should seize this historic opportunity. As a newly recognized global diplomat and statesman, he can proactively pursue peace on the Korean peninsula by going to China.
This move would also be an excellent way to act on President Trump's playful offer. During their recent summit, Trump joked, “Maybe we’ll go together. Share a plane, save energy, save the ozone layer.” Lee warmly responded, “I hope we can go together.” Trump then added, “If you want to go, I’ll get special permission… we’re going to have a great relationship with China.” By accepting this invitation, President Lee can leverage his newfound international stature to advance his diplomatic goals and build on his successful summit with Trump.
Simone Chun
Canada
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