Andy Kim, the first Korean-American to become a U.S. Senator, stated that he would strongly oppose any coercive measures employed by President-elect Trump against Korea and other Asian countries after his inauguration.
At a press conference in Washington D.C. with Asian media, Kim expressed his concerns about Trump’s policies regarding the Indo-Pacific region and Korea, stating that he was not optimistic.
Kim mentioned that he had conversations with figures such as Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio, where he expressed his hope that the U.S. would continue its trilateral cooperation with South Korea and Japan.
He also reported that while he is willing to cooperate if the Trump administration works to strengthen alliances and partnerships, he would oppose any actions that undermine these partnerships.
Elected as a senator in November last year, Kim is the first Korean-American to serve in the U.S. Senate. He officially began his role as a senator with the opening of the 119th U.S. Congress on January 3rd.
Senator Kim is set to participate in four standing committees, including the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.