The effort by the Korea Times content editor Oh Young-jin to rehabilitate US Ambassador Harris' image in South Korea is a failure. Harris' claim that he never stated that it looked like Moon Jae-in was surrounded by leftist supporters of communist North Korea is simply labored prevarication. The content of his statement last September came from not one but multiple sources at his embassy meeting with National Assembly members.
What is worse is that the admiral, er, I mean the ambassador, doesn't seem to realize that he has zero authority to insist on confidentiality during a meeting with elected members of the National Assembly. They represent the sovereign power of government inside South Korea, not him. The fact, that the long time military man doesn't understand this simply lends more credence to the analogy with the unfortunate legacy of foreign legations, especially that of Japan, routinely, interfering in internal Korean politics, with a view toward controlling it. In Harris' revealing but disingenuous response, the admiral referred to the article "Who framed Roger Rabbit- in Cheong Wa Tae?" by the same Oh Young-jin of Korea Times. Harris' comment, in context, reveals an untoward knowledge of internal workings of South Korean foreign policy, as viewed from the right, especially concerning the South Korean governmental policies and officials that he, like most US officials, would also prefer to see gone. Again, Oh's analysis of Harris' implausible denial highlights the US inclination to interfere in the South Korean policy making process. Oh's rendering of the interview portrays the Ambassador's attempt to mitigate the damages from his blundering meddling:
Harris denied my description of the Moon Jae-in government as being friendly toward North Korea. Some would go further than I did as anti-Moon factions called him pro-North Korean or leftist or worse. Harris said that in trying to improve the chance of dialogue with the North, Moon's policy was not a function of government but a function of opportunity. Simply put, Moon is using it when it has a chance while some of his predecessors had no opportunity so they did not have a chance to implement it. Maybe Harris is trying to be nice to the Moon government amid cat calls from Moon critics, but it may reflect a general U.S. view of Moon. If the latter were true (emphasis added), it would mark a departure from what is often believed to be the Washington consensus about Moon, his North Korean view and his China approach.
In other words Moon is trying to lead a South Korean foreign policy that puts Korea first, and this is what is resented in the US as it accustomed to more pliable leaders.
Admiral Harris pays homage to the former Japanese Imperial Army officer who served in Manchukuo on behalf of Japan during WWII. General Baik Seon-yup later led troops against the communist armed forces in the Korean conflict. Recently, the former ROK Army four star general has been rolled out at the forefront of encouraging active duty Armed Forces personnel to oppose the Moon Jae-in administration. How far ROK Army officers might go in their opposition is an open question in light of Saenuri Party (LKP) administration martial law plans in early 2017.
Harris really plays poorly with the public in South Korea, while the far right demonstrators who worship the former US supported dictators Syngmun Rhee and Park Chung Hee, are currently out on the streets. They voice their support for the efforts of the far right LKP party in the legislature to obstruct the government's lawful processes, commonly using illegal and disruptive tactics. While they are promoting what can only be viewed as a descent into authoritarianism aimed at bringing down democracy, they wave US flags. Further they call on president Moon Jae-in to step down without any justification. All this Sturm und Drang, necessary because the far right is now clearly in the minority in a democratic system. The authoritarians can't get over it and want Moon, his cabinet, and the ruling democratic coalition out. Coincidentally, this is exactly what the US would like as implied by Oh in his opinion. While Harris alleges that he is impartial, he supports elements in the South Korean community of military officers, former and present, as demonstrated by his public endorsement of 100 year old General Baik Seon-yup, who is the very symbol of the confluence of South Korean authoritarianism and the Japanese colonial legacy in South Korean domestic politics. In spite of the considerable effort of the Korea Times and the US Ambassador, it won't be forgotten that Harris attempted to enter into a discussion with South Korean legislators concerning South Korean domestic politics in which he described the incumbent cabinet as pro-North Korean leftists.
Admiral Harris's jawboning of National Assembly members to support the extortionate demand by the US for 5 billion dollars in the SMA is just one more self evident proof of his poor judgement, undiplomatic character, and desire to meddle in internal South Korean politics.
Admiral, that is Ambassador Harris should retire from his "diplomatic" career. He is a rude, arrogant meddler in the sovereign affairs of South Korea. While he may meddle no more than some prior US ambassadors during the days of the dictatorships, the analogy with the Japanese legations of yore fits as well. Growing a mustache didn't cure his authoritarian militarism.
Sources:
*해리스 “文대통령, 종북좌파에 둘러싸여있다” 발언 논란
조동주 기자 , 한기재 기자입력 2019-11-30 03:00수정 2019-11-30 03:00
http://www.donga.com/news/article/all/20191129/98601249/1
*US envoy under fire for disparaging remarks on ally, By Do Je-hae, Park Ji-won, Dec. 2.
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2019/12/113_279649.html
Harris: 'I am not Japanese US ambassador'
Oh Young-jin 12.29
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2019/12/120_281041.html
[FULL TEXT] Interview with US Amb. Harry Harris
By Yi Whan-woo
Transcript of Dec. 23 interview published 12.29
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2019/12/176_281050.html
Who framed Roger Rabbit - in Cheong Wa Dae? 10.10,
By Oh Young-jin
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2019/10/667_276894.html
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