[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 32 (Tuesday, February 24, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E342]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING THE SERVICE OF KOREAN AMBASSADOR TAE-SIK LEE

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. ENI F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 24, 2009

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and bid 
farewell to my friend, Ambassador Tae-Sik Lee, who since 2005 has 
represented his country, the Republic of Korea, in Washington.
  Ambassador Lee first served as a diplomat in Washington in the early 
1980s and later earned a degree from the School of Advanced 
International Studies at Johns Hopkins University. After serving in 
numerous posts in Seoul and other world capitals, his return to 
Washington nearly four years ago was in many ways a homecoming.
  While I would like to dwell on Ambassador Lee's series of 
distinguished positions in service to his country--Vice Minister of 
Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ambassador to the Court of St. James in 
London, Ambassador to Israel, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, 
Director-General of the International Trade Bureau and Deputy Executive 
Director of Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization--the 
limited time I have will not do justice to his distinguished service. 
However, I wish to point that during his tenure as Ambassador to the 
United States, the alliance of our two countries has grown stronger and 
deeper.
  For instance, in 2007, the United States and South Korea signed a 
Free Trade Agreement that will result in significant, measurable 
benefits to businesses, workers, and consumers in both of our 
countries.
  Last November, Korea successfully joined the Visa Waiver Program, 
which makes travel between Korea and the United States much easier for 
tourists, business leaders, family members, students, and others.
  Additionally, by an act of Congress, Korea's Foreign Military Sales 
status was elevated to the equivalent of NATO+3. This change in status 
will have a positive impact both in terms of military readiness and 
enhanced interoperability of our two countries' armed forces.
  Throughout Ambassador Lee's time in Washington, South Korea and the 
United States have remained steadfast in efforts to solve the North 
Korean nuclear problem and to ensure continued peace, stability, and 
prosperity in the Northeast Asia region. Ambassador Lee also skillfully 
managed often vexing and sensitive historical issues ranging from 
``Comfort Women'' to the Dokdo Islands.
  Also during Ambassador Lee's tenure, the Congress passed resolutions 
that included celebrating the U.S.-Korea alliance, welcoming President 
Myung-Bak Lee to Washington in April 2007 and calling for justice on 
the ``Comfort Women'' issue. All these important accomplishments 
underscore Ambassador Lee's thoughtful diplomacy and willingness to 
engage Members of Congress, no matter how challenging the issue at 
hand.
  Ambassador Lee did not limit his work to our nation's capital. He 
often traveled throughout the United States and, on many occasions, 
spoke to groups of American veterans of the Korean War, offering the 
gratitude of his people and thanking them personally for their service 
and sacrifice.
  The strong friendship between the United States and the Republic of 
Korea has been immeasurably enhanced by the professionalism, 
cordiality, intelligence and friendship of Ambassador Lee.
  Madam Speaker, while Ambassador Lee goes on to new responsibilities 
and new experiences, I ask that my colleagues join with me to offer our 
thanks and congratulations as we bid the Ambassador a fond farewell. We 
wish him the best in all his future endeavors.

                          ____________________