Politics · South Korea · 2 hrs ago
Lee urges South Korea to build bipartisan support in US Congress
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung urged stronger ties with both parties in Congress after US midterm elections changed the balance of power in Washington.
The Democratic Party won control of the Senate and House, according to Yonhap.
Lee told officials to keep working with the US administration and expand contacts with state governments and businesses.
He said South Korea should prepare for changes and limit possible harm to its economy.
The two countries are working through a broad alliance agenda, including trade, investment and security agreements.
Some issues include a large South Korean investment package in the US and Seoul’s plans involving nuclear-powered submarines and nuclear fuel; analysts say these could face closer scrutiny in Congress.
Lee wants bipartisan support to protect South Korean interests and investments as the political landscape shifts.
He also called for officials to monitor markets and prepare contingency plans, but no specific next steps or timeline were given.
President Lee Jae Myung urged South Korea to build bipartisan support in the US Congress after Democrats took control of both chambers in last week’s midterm elections.
He called for continued cooperation with the US administration and wider engagement with state governments and businesses.
Lee asked officials to prepare for changes in the external environment and limit risks to South Korea’s economy.
He also stressed protecting South Korean firms’ national interests and investments and implementing bilateral diplomatic and security agreements.
- Who
- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.
- What
- He urged his government to seek bipartisan support in the US Congress and continue cooperation with the US administration.
- When
- Nov. 10, 2026.
- Where
- At a Cabinet meeting in Seoul.
- Why
- Democrats took control of both chambers of Congress, and Lee said changes in the external environment could affect South Korea’s economy and alliance agenda.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Democrats won control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives in the US midterm elections.
Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il told lawmakers that AI investment in the real economy remained robust despite stock market concerns following the US midterms.
Lee urged officials at a Cabinet meeting to build bipartisan support in Congress and prepare for possible changes.
- US midterm elections
- Democrats won control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives
- Meeting date
- Nov. 10, 2026
- Location
- Cheong Wa Dae, Seoul
- South Korean president
- Lee Jae Myung
- Priority
- Protect South Korean firms’ national interests and investments
2 sources
What people are saying
More important than anything would be strengthening and expanding the foundation for cooperation and trust between the two countries from the mutually beneficial perspective
To that end, (South Korea) would need to continue close cooperation with the U.S. administration, while, at the same time, establishing a bipartisan foundation for cooperation in Congress and expanding the scope of communication with the state governments and the economic sector
The most important thing is to focus our diplomatic efforts on strengthening and expanding trust and cooperation between South Korea and the United States from a mutually beneficial perspective