Welcome to President Roh Moo-Hyn of the Republic of Korea

WELCOME TO PRESIDENT ROH MOO-HYN OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA -- (Extensions of Remarks - September 12, 2006)

SPEECH OF
HON. HENRY J. HYDE
OF ILLINOIS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2006

* Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, as you are aware, President Roh Moo-hyn of the Republic of Korea is scheduled to visit the United States from September 12 to 15, 2006, for a summit meeting with President George W. Bush. After meetings in Washington with President Bush and Members of the congressional leadership, President Roh will travel to San Francisco.

* Mr. Speaker, recently I had the privilege of visiting South Korea and meeting with President Roh and other Korean officials, as well as with U.S. soldiers and members of the diplomatic community. The Korean people treated us with warmth and hospitality, for which I am deeply grateful.

* While in South Korea, I had an opportunity to lay a wreath in tribute to GEN Douglas MacArthur at his statue at Incheon harbor. The statue was erected by the citizens of the City of Incheon to commemorate the General's vital leadership during the Korean war, including his implementation of the daring landing at Incheon in the darkest days of the Korean War. In his farewell address before this Congress in 1951, General MacArthur said: ``Of the nations of the world, Korea alone, up to now, is the sole one which has risked its all against communism. The magnificence of the courage and fortitude of the Korean people defies description. They have chosen to risk death rather than slavery.''

* Korea and the United States have been allies and friends for more than half a century. Our economic ties are strong. With a per capita income of $14,162, South Korea is the world's 11th-largest economy and the 7th largest trading partner of the United States, with a trade volume amounting to over $72 billion each year. The United States and South Korea are currently engaged in negotiations that will lead to a U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, which will further solidify and expand U.S.-Korean economic ties.

* With a population of well over one million, the Korean-American community has become, in the past century, a vital and important part of the American mosaic. The greater Los Angeles area, with its vibrant Korean-American community, is now one of the world's centers of Korean culture. But Korean-Americans are not only found in California. From Hawaii, east to New York, and from Alaska down to Florida, Korean-Americans are making a critical contribution to the United States in such diverse fields as medicine, education, science, engineering, martial arts, small business enterprises, entrepreneurship, music and the fine arts. America has been enriched by the Korean-American community's many contributions, and its existence has bonded us even closer to the Korean peninsula across the Pacific.

* It should come as no surprise, then, that the United States is also a popular destination for travelers from South Korea, whether they are coming here to visit their family members who have become part of the American community, attending U.S. colleges and universities, or meeting with business colleagues in the pursuit of greater trade and investment.

* The U.S. consular section at our embassy in Seoul is the busiest non-immigrant visa issuing post in the world, processing between 1,800 and 2,000 visa applications each day. It is clear that South Koreans want to visit the United States, and they have good reasons for doing so.

* There are currently efforts underway to bring South Korea under the umbrella of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, which already applies to 27 other countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and Japan. This program, established in 1986 with the objective of promoting better relations with U.S. allies, also eliminates unnecessary barriers to travel, stimulates the tourism industry, and permits the U.S. Department of State to focus consular resources in other areas.

* The South Korean Government has made it clear that it intends to meet all of the statutory and regulatory requirements of the Visa Waiver Program. Seoul is working with the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, and State in a diligent fashion to make sure that relevant South Korean governmental agencies have implemented the most up-to-date passport controls, using biometric and other technologies to prevent fraud and abuse. Mr. Speaker, I am almost certain that the Republic of Korea's entry into the Visa Waiver Program will be one of the topics discussed by President Roh and President Bush during their summit meeting this month.

* There are, of course, other issues that certainly will be discussed at the White House by President Bush and President Roh, including the free trade negotiations, North Korean nuclear weapons development, and South Korea's active participation in the global war on terrorism and its contributions to the war effort in Iraq. The United States and South Korea have enjoyed a long and productive alliance, which, based on blood ties forged in the Korean war, will deepen into the indefinite future.

* The frequent meetings of U.S. and Korean leaders are a clear manifestation of the close relationship shared by our two countries. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, let me take this opportunity to welcome the president of the Republic of Korea, Roh Moo-hyun, to the United States as he visits Washington, DC, and the golden State of California. I invite all Members of the House to join me in offering President Roh our best wishes and hospitality as he visits our Nation's Capital.

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