The hundreds-strong rally chanted, “No Trump!” as it got closer to the US embassy in the heart of Seoul, the capital of South Korea. They were prevented from entering the gates by a line of police buses, but a loudspeaker and stage made sure their voices could be heard over Gwanghwamun Square and by US President Donald Trump’s aides.
By the standards of South Korea’s thriving protest culture, this was a tiny gathering. It wasn’t the only one underway, however. At the gates of Gyeongbokgung palace, a few hundred meters to the north, protesters carried additional banners in the air while chanting a completely different message.
This foot traffic in central Seoul on a bright Saturday, however, is a preview of the diplomatic juggle South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will have to do this week when he visits Chinese and US leaders.
Seoul has traditionally been a vital ally of the United States. As its leaders frequently state, the partnership was “forged in blood” during the 1950–1953 Korean War, when American forces assisted in fending off the North Korean invasion. China is the South’s largest economic partner and a crucial export market, but it also needs Washington’s protection.
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