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Trump's Influence to Persist Post-Midterms; Korea Urged to Engage Strategically
🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Trump's Influence to Persist Post-Midterms; Korea Urged to Engage Strategically

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Analysis Named sources Context piece
  • Donald Trump's influence in the U.S. will persist after the midterm elections, shifting focus from legislative power to executive authority.
  • The Democratic Party is expected to narrowly regain control of the House, while Republicans will likely maintain a majority in the Senate.
  • South Korea should strategically engage with various U.S. political networks, beyond just the White House and USTR, to foster favorable public opinion and manage bilateral relations.

Donald Trump's political influence in the United States is expected to endure beyond the upcoming midterm elections, with a potential shift from legislative power to executive authority, according to Kim Dong-seok, president of the Korean American Civic Action Network (KAGC).

This midterm election is not an election that will determine the end of Donald Trump's power. It is highly likely that the power of the Trump administration will shift from legislative to executive.

— Kim Dong-seokDescribing the expected outcome and impact of the U.S. midterm elections on Trump's influence.

Speaking at a forum in Seoul, Kim predicted that the Democratic Party might narrowly reclaim the House of Representatives, while the Republican Party is likely to retain its majority in the Senate. He cautioned against assuming Trump's power would wane if Democrats take the House, emphasizing his continued reliance on executive orders, veto power, and diplomatic authority.

Kim suggested that Trump might seek to solidify his legacy in foreign policy, citing his past proposals for summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. He speculated that Trump could pursue business-oriented deals with North Korea, similar to reconstruction projects in Gaza, especially given the ongoing conflict in Iran.

If you think Trump's power will weaken if the House goes to the Democrats, that's a mistake.

— Kim Dong-seokWarning against underestimating Trump's continued influence through executive actions.

Furthermore, Kim advised South Korea to prepare for continued pressure regarding investments in the U.S. leading up to the midterms. He recommended a strategic approach to cultivating favorable U.S. public opinion by engaging with a diverse range of political networks, including members of Congress, governors, and local representatives, not just the White House and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

We need to approach strategically to make public opinion in the U.S. favorable to Korea.

— Kim Dong-seokAdvising South Korea on how to manage its relationship with the U.S.

Kim stressed the importance of demonstrating the tangible benefits of South Korean investment, such as job creation, supply chain contributions, and tax revenue within specific states and districts. By framing South Korea's requests not as foreign demands but as shared interests for U.S. economic security, he believes they will be better received.

Instead of just stating the total amount Korea has invested in the U.S., show how many jobs, supply chains, and tax revenues have been created in specific states and districts for each congressman.

— Kim Dong-seokSuggesting a method for South Korea to demonstrate the value of its investments to U.S. politicians.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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