{"id":2208564,"date":"2025-03-03T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-02T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2208564"},"modified":"2025-03-02T23:33:29","modified_gmt":"2025-03-02T14:33:29","slug":"chois-march-1-address-warns-of-us-and-china-pressures-on-south-koreas-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2025\/03\/chois-march-1-address-warns-of-us-and-china-pressures-on-south-koreas-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Choi\u2019s March 1 address warns of US and China pressures on South Korea\u2019s future"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Acting President Choi Sang-mok marked the 106th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement on Saturday with a speech emphasizing national unity and historical remembrance. Speaking in Seoul, Choi paid tribute to independence activists and called for strengthening South Korea\u2019s economy and defense to safeguard long-term national stability. He urged Koreans to learn from history and avoid internal divisions that could weaken the country\u2019s global position.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Choi noted that 2025 marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic normalization between South Korea and Japan and expressed hope that both nations can heal past wounds. He stressed that bilateral cooperation is essential to navigating growing geopolitical uncertainties, though he acknowledged Imperial Japan\u2019s oppression during the colonial period.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>WHY IT MATTERS<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Choi\u2019s remarks stood in sharp contrast to President Yoon Suk-yeol\u2019s March 1 speeches in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.president.go.kr\/president\/speeches\/u9KzF591\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2023<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.president.go.kr\/president\/speeches\/XbuyG7Tm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2024<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. While Yoon downplayed historical grievances and focused on strengthening ties with Japan, Choi took a more measured approach, acknowledging Japan\u2019s colonial repression while framing cooperation as something that must be built on historical awareness and national strength.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Choi also warned that \u201cno nation can afford to entrust its destiny to the goodwill of stronger powers.\u201d The remark takes on greater significance as the United States under President Donald Trump has imposed new <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2025\/02\/trumps-tariffs-hit-south-korean-steel-hard-as-us-trade-war-expands\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">tariffs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, reportedly pressured South Korean tech firms to invest $1 billion in the U.S. in exchange for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chosun.com\/english\/industry-en\/2025\/02\/24\/OFOQQHS7CFDQPBQJZMFAELIMYI\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fast-tracked subsidies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and displayed a transactional approach to alliances. Choi\u2019s statement signals growing concern that Washington may not be a reliable economic and security partner, reinforcing a sentiment that South Korea must strengthen its strategic autonomy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Choi is expected to leave office by mid-May if the Constitutional Court upholds Yoon\u2019s impeachment, triggering a snap presidential election. His address, which reflected a more cautious and balanced approach to foreign policy, was likely a parting message to South Korea\u2019s next leader. The incoming president will inherit an increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment, with mounting U.S. and Chinese pressures, rising North Korean threats and growing instability in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2025\/02\/the-death-of-like-minded-diplomacy-and-what-it-means-for-south-korea\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">transatlantic relations<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"content-tags\"><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/tag\/business-economy\/\"><span class=\"tag\">Business &amp; Economy<\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/tag\/defense-security\/\"><span class=\"tag\">Defense &amp; Security<\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/tag\/domestic-politics\/\"><span class=\"tag\">Domestic Politics<\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/tag\/inter-korean-foreign-relations\/\"><span class=\"tag\">Inter-Korean &amp; Foreign Relations<\/span><\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Acting President Choi Sang-mok marked the 106th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement on Saturday with a speech emphasizing national unity and historical remembrance. Speaking in Seoul, Choi paid tribute to independence activists and called for strengthening South Korea\u2019s economy and defense to safeguard long-term national stability. He urged Koreans to learn from history [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10407,"featured_media":2208565,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[24,26,27,28],"class_list":["post-2208564","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-briefings","tag-business-economy","tag-defense-security","tag-domestic-politics","tag-inter-korean-foreign-relations"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Choi\u2019s March 1 address warns of US and China pressures on South Korea\u2019s future - Korea Pro<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2025\/03\/chois-march-1-address-warns-of-us-and-china-pressures-on-south-koreas-future\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Choi\u2019s March 1 address warns of US and China pressures on South Korea\u2019s future - Korea Pro\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Acting President Choi Sang-mok marked the 106th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement on Saturday with a speech emphasizing national unity and historical remembrance. 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