[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 196 (Wednesday, November 18, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1051]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CELEBRATING THE ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE REPUBLIC OF 
                                 KOREA

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. ED CASE

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 18, 2020

  Mr. CASE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and honor the 
longstanding friendship and continued alliance between two great 
nations: the United States and the Republic of Korea.
  Seventy years ago, American and Allied servicemembers and civilians 
bravely came to the defense of South Korea, fighting alongside so many 
brave Korean citizens against North Korean aggression. While three long 
years of bitter conflict yielded only a stalemate, from the shared 
sacrifice and courage of millions emerged an enduring alliance and 
friendship between the United States and South Korea based on a common 
vision for the world and shared values for our peoples. The Mutual 
Defense Treaty between the United States and the Republic of Korea 
endures to this day as a pillar of stability for the entire lndoPacific 
region. And in just the three generations since the Korean War, South 
Korea has emerged as one of Asia's great success stories, building a 
dynamic and diverse economy with a vibrant civil society and popular 
culture celebrated the world over.
  However, the relationship between the American and Korean peoples 
goes even deeper than the Korean War. In 1882, representatives of the 
United States and the Joseon Dynasty established diplomatic relations 
between their countries through the Treaty of Peace, Amity, Commerce 
and Navigation. This was the first treaty Korea signed with a Western 
power, a treaty that first acknowledged Korea's status as an 
independent country.
  My Hawaii has also played and continues to play a major role in the 
strong relationship between our two countries. In 1903, the first 
Korean immigrants arrived in the United States through Hawaii, and I am 
proud of Hawaii's history and present as the gateway for new 
generations of Korean American immigrants and as a major bridge between 
our countries and peoples. Today, there are over two million Korean 
Americans across the United States, with almost 35,000 residing in my 
home state of Hawaii. It is a true honor to represent such a diverse 
and accomplished community that has contributed so much to the richness 
of Hawaii.
  Today, this House passed two resolutions recognizing the importance 
of the U.S.-South Korea alliance. H. Res. 809 expresses the importance 
of the United States alliance with the Republic of Korea and the 
contributions of Korean Americans in the United States, and H. Res. 
1012 recognizes the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War 
and the transformation of the United States-Korea alliance into a 
mutually beneficial, global partnership.
  I am proud to support both resolutions and will continue to pursue 
opportunities to strengthen this crucial relationship, as well as to 
support Korean American communities in Hawaii and across the country.
  Thank you: (Gam-sa-ham-ni-da and mahalo)

                          ____________________