Politics · South Korea · 3 hrs ago
South Korea opposition criticizes Lee over US ties and Trump golf plans
South Korea's People Power Party criticized President Lee Jae-myung over his approach to relations with the United States.
The criticism came as the Blue House formed a team to prepare for a possible golf meeting between Lee and US President Donald Trump.
The meeting has no confirmed date, but officials see December's G20 summit in Miami as a possible opportunity.
The party said South Korea's diplomatic and security team was weakening trust in the alliance, not the golf plans.
It also urged Lee to remove Unification Minister Chung Dong-young and change his foreign policy team.
The dispute follows Lee's call to avoid diplomacy that is overly deferential to other countries, while the opposition says the US alliance must remain firm.
Whether the leaders will meet for golf remains uncertain.
South Korea’s People Power Party criticized President Lee Jae Myung over his comments on avoiding what he called submissive diplomacy and preparations for a possible golf meeting with US President Donald Trump.
The opposition party said the government’s approach was weakening trust in the US-South Korea alliance.
It urged Lee to dismiss Unification Minister Chung Dong-young and overhaul the government’s foreign and security team before taking up a golf club.
The presidential office has formed a task force to prepare for a possible golf meeting, although no meeting date has been confirmed.
The meeting could take place around the G20 summit in Miami in December, according to the Chosun Ilbo.
- Who
- President Lee Jae Myung, US President Donald Trump and South Korea’s People Power Party.
- What
- The opposition criticized Lee’s comments on diplomacy and preparations for a possible golf meeting with Trump.
- When
- The criticism was reported on October 14, 2026. The possible golf meeting could be around the G20 summit in December.
- Where
- South Korea; the possible meeting could be in Miami.
- Why
- The People Power Party said the government was weakening trust in the US-South Korea alliance.
People Power Party
South Korean presidential office
Alliance policy
People Power Party
The party said the government was weakening alliance trust and South Korea’s strategic position.
South Korean presidential office
The office has prepared for a possible golf meeting with Trump; its view of the party’s criticism is not stated.
Golf meeting preparations
People Power Party
The party said the cause of strain was the government’s foreign and security team, not the golf course.
South Korean presidential office
The office formed a task force to prepare for a possible meeting, which has not been scheduled.
Lee played golf during the ceiling-collapse accident at a shopping complex in Daegu, according to Yonhap.
The G20 summit is scheduled to take place in Miami, where a golf meeting between Lee and Trump could be held.
The People Power Party criticized Lee’s diplomacy and the task force preparing for a possible golf meeting.
- Task force
- The presidential office formed a task force to prepare for a possible Lee-Trump golf meeting.
- Meeting date
- Not confirmed.
- Possible venue and occasion
- Miami, around the G20 summit in December.
- Opposition demand
- The People Power Party urged Lee to dismiss Unification Minister Chung Dong-young and overhaul the foreign and security team.
3 sources
What people are saying
What the people want is neither submission nor toadyism, but for the US-South Korea alliance, a key pillar of South Korea’s diplomacy and security, to be protected without wavering.
The wrong target has been chosen. The alliance is being shaken not by the golf course but by the foreign and security team.
Before picking up a golf club, President Lee should dismiss Unification Minister Chung Dong-young and overhaul the foreign and security team.