[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 113 (Wednesday, September 13, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1709-E1710]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       WELCOME TO PRESIDENT ROH MOO-HYUN OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY J. HYDE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 13, 2006

  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, as you are aware, President Roh Moo-hyun of 
the Republic of Korea is scheduled to visit the United States from 
September 12-15, 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 a 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 eleventh-largest economy 
and the seventh 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 1 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

[[Page E1710]]

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, D.C. 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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