Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2022

May 21, 2022

President Yoon. Mr. President, distinguished members of the U.S. delegation, all fellow supporters of our alliance, ladies and gentlemen: It is an honor to welcome you here tonight. This year marks 140th anniversary of our diplomatic ties, and next year we celebrate 70 years of alliance between our two nations.

At today's summit talks, Mr. President and I reaffirmed our enduring commitment to the robust R.O.K.-U.S. alliance and to seek together a new promise and future for our two countries.

In 1950, when communist invasion put my beloved homeland in peril, America's sons and daughters fought together and sacrificed their lives to defend the freedom of a country they never knew. Thus, the R.O.K.-U.S. alliance was forged in blood on the battlefield of the Korean war.

Since then, the alliance has been a strong foundation which buttressed Korea's economic growth and prosperity based on free democracy and market economy.

The KORUS FTA, since it came into effect a decade ago, has created many decent jobs and promoted investment in Korea as well as in the United States. The bond between the Republic of Korea and the United States will grow even deeper. The cooperation between our two nations will become only stronger.

Sharing universal values of free democracy, human rights, and rule of law, our alliance will go beyond security to a cutting-edge technology alliance and to a global comprehensive strategic alliance. I will draw and design a new future vision of our alliance with you, Mr. President.

Mr. President, there's a line from the poem, "The Municipal Gallery Revisited," by William Butler Yeats, one of your favorite poets. It goes:

Think where man's glory most begins and ends, And say my glory was I had such friends.

The United States is such friend to Korea, and so is the Republic of Korea to the United States. So now let me propose a toast to our dear friendship, to our shared journey for the freedom and human rights of all citizens around the world, and to the peace and prosperity of the region and beyond. We go to together. Thank you.

[*At this point, President Yoon offered a toast.*]

President Biden. Well, thank you, Mr. President. We've had very productive meetings today. Andâbut even more importantly, we've gotten a chance to get to know one another personally. We shared a lot of stories from ourâ[laughter]âearly beginnings, and I think maybe we told each other too much. I don't know. [Laughter] Butââ

[*An interpreter began to translate President Biden's remarks into Korean.*] *President Biden. *ââplease.

[*As the interpreter concluded, President Biden continued his remarks, pausing for translation throughout, as follows.*]

President Biden. The idea you would quote William Butler Yeats, I appreciate very much. [Laughter] That wouldn't happen in London.

Revitalizing this alliance was one of my key foreign policy priorities when I took office last year.

Mr. President, your country's democracy shows the power to be able to deliver for its people.

We're proud to say, as the general who was with me today can say as well, that our armed forces stand side by side, standing sentinel on a Peninsula for seven decades to preserve the peace and make possible that shared prosperity.

So I'd like to raise a glass. May the alliance between our two great nations continue to flourish through all the decades ahead. And as our combined forces say, "We go together." Hear, hear.

[*President Biden offered a toast.*]

NOTE: The President spoke at approximately 7:45 p.m. at the National Museum of Korea. President Yoon spoke in Korean, and his remarks were translated by an interpreter. The transcript was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on May 22.

Categories: Meetings With Foreign Leaders and International Officials : South Korea, President Yoon.

Locations: Seoul, South Korea.

Names: Yoon Suk Yeol.

Subjects: South Korea : Defense relationship with U.S.; South Korea : President; South Korea : President Biden's visit; South Korea : Relations with U.S.

DCPD Number: DCPD202200435.