Expressing Appreciation to the Republic of Korea and to Korean Americans

Floor Speech

Expressing Appreciation to the Republic of Korea and to Korean Americans

* Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Lee Myung-Bak on his election as President of the Republic of Korea and to express appreciation for the many contributions of the Republic of Korea and Korean Americans towards strengthening and enlarging the U.S.-Korea alliance partnership.

* On January 13, 1903 the first Korean immigrants arrived in the United States. On that day each year, now known as Korean American Day, we recognize and honor the economic, social, cultural and political contributions Korean-Americans have made to the United States over the last century. Korean-Americans have thrived in this country because of a shared belief in the importance of family life, individual responsibility, hard work and education.

* Over the past 50 years we have seen the Republic of Korea emerge from colonial rule and the ravages of war to stand alongside the United States as a beacon of democracy, peace and security; prospering under a free market economy whilst upholding the rule of law. Over these 50 years the Republic of Korea has been a loyal and indispensable ally to the United States as we have worked at close quarters to combat those who would threaten these shared values.

* In recent times we have seen this commitment through South Korean peacekeeping troops in Lebanon and Afghanistan, and the 650 South Korean military personnel serving alongside our soldiers in Iraq today, now the third largest partner in the coalition with $460 million pledged to the reconstruction effort. At the end of December last year, South Korea's National Assembly voted to extend the time of its commitment to provide troops for the War in Iraq. While some of our friends scale down their operations in Iraq, our South Korean friends have remained steadfast in the War on Terror, for which we are truly grateful.

* In his farewell address to the Congress in 1951, one of Arkansas' greatest sons, General Douglas MacArthur, said this of the Republic of Korea: ``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.''

* Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate the new President-Elect of the Republic of Korea, Lee Myung-Bak, and wish him well as he takes on the responsibility of working with the United States to tackle the challenges of the East Asian region, particularly the ongoing efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. I ask that my colleagues join me today in recognizing and honoring the U.S.-Korea Alliance and the contribution of our South Korean friends to the global war on terror as we work towards ensuring the safety of our citizens.

* We look forward to fostering our historic relationship under the new leadership of President Lee Myung-Bak.

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