Politics · South Korea · 2 hrs ago
South Korea opposition says government is putting US alliance at risk
South Korea’s opposition People Power Party accused President Lee Jae-myung’s government of weakening the US alliance.
The party said a regular security meeting with the US had been delayed and criticized the government’s push to transfer wartime operational control to South Korea.
It argued that the transfer should depend on US conditions and South Korea’s military readiness, rather than a political timetable.
The party also alleged that the US had limited intelligence sharing after remarks by South Korea’s unification minister about North Korean nuclear facilities.
It pointed to tensions over US visas and high-level discussions, while these issues were presented as the party’s claims.
The party urged the government to replace the minister, examine visa screening and restore high-level communication before a planned December meeting in Washington.
South Korea’s People Power Party accused President Lee Jae-myung’s government of putting the US alliance at risk and urged it to stop what it called security experiments.
The party cited disputes over wartime operational control transfer, restrictions on sharing North Korea intelligence and US visitor visa refusals.
Its chief spokesperson, Park Chung-kwon, called for the dismissal of Unification Minister Chung Dong-young and the restoration of high-level communication with Washington.
Park also urged President Lee to act before a planned December meeting in Washington.
- Who
- South Korea’s People Power Party and its chief spokesperson, Park Chung-kwon.
- What
- The party said the government’s security policies were endangering the US alliance and called for policy changes.
- When
- October 30, 2026.
- Where
- Seoul, South Korea; Park issued the statement in a commentary.
- Why
- The party cited disputes over wartime operational control transfer, North Korea intelligence sharing and US visitor visa refusals.
People Power Party
Lee Jae-myung government
Alliance and security policy
People Power Party
The party said the alliance was nearing collapse and urged the government to stop its security policies.
Lee Jae-myung government
The government’s position, as reported by the party, was that there was no problem; the Defense Ministry said it did not mean to delay the transfer of wartime operational control.
Wartime operational control transfer
People Power Party
The party said the transfer was being pushed despite insufficient preparation and conditions.
Lee Jae-myung government
The Defense Ministry said its position did not mean the transfer would be delayed.
Park Chung-kwon issued a commentary criticizing the government’s security policy.
Park called on President Lee to restore high-level communication channels with the United States.
- Party
- People Power Party
- Spokesperson
- Park Chung-kwon
- Visitor visa refusal rate
- 24.7% for South Koreans, compared with 20.2% for Chinese nationals
- Planned meeting
- Washington, in December
- SCM
- The security consultative meeting was crossing into a new year for the first time in 28 years
1 source
What people are saying
The Lee Jae-myung government must immediately stop security experiments that bring the US-South Korea alliance to collapse
The cause is not outside but inside
The warning lights will not go out just because you close your eyes, and they will not disappear just because you ignore reality