PM says sees no big change in alliance with US after Trump's election defeat

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook said Thursday in a parliamentary budget committee meeting that she expects no major change in relations with the United States after the Republican Party’s defeat in the midterm elections. She said both U.S. parties consider the Korea-U.S. alliance important, while noting the Democratic Party’s victory was stronger than expected. Relevant ministries are reviewing Seoul’s diplomatic strategy and whether additional measures are needed. The presidential office said it would continue working with the U.S. administration and Congress to develop the alliance.

Han said some aspects of Seoul’s response require detailed analysis, while others may call for additional measures.

Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said the alliance had developed over more than 70 years with bipartisan U.S. support.

Kang said Seoul would continue investment projects in the United States under its agreement with the Trump government, with details reviewed according to national interests, commercial reasonableness and relevant procedures.

Published Nov 5, 2026 1:53 pm KST

Updated Nov 5, 2026 5:17 pm KST

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook speaks during a parliamentary budget committee meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook said Thursday she anticipates no big changes in relations with the United States after U.S. President Donald Trump's Republican Party suffered a crushing defeat in this week's midterm elections, adding the U.S. Democratic Party also considers the Korea-U.S. alliance important.

"As both the Democratic and Republican parties have considered the alliance between the two countries important, I think there will not be very big changes in relations with Korea," Han said during a parliamentary budget committee meeting after a lawmaker asked her to assess the election results.

She said the Democratic Party's victory was stronger than expected.

"There are parts that we should analyze one by one in detail and other parts that require additional measures," Han said when asked about Seoul's diplomatic strategy toward Washington, adding that each relevant ministry is currently reviewing such issues.

The presidential office reaffirmed its unwavering efforts to further develop the alliance, saying the decadeslong alliance will unlikely be affected by the outcome of an election.

"The Korea-U.S. alliance is one that has developed solidly over more than 70 years based on bipartisan U.S. support, and the results of certain elections are unlikely to affect the alliance," presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung told a press briefing.

Kang said the Korean government would closely communicate and cooperate with not only the U.S. administration but also Congress to pursue the development of the alliance.

She added that Seoul will also continue to pursue investment projects in the U.S. based on its agreement with the Trump government, noting the specifics of the investment would be reviewed under the principles of "national interests first," commercial reasonableness and relevant procedures.

韩国总理韩圣淑周四在国会预算委员会会议上表示，她预计共和党在中期选举中失利后，韩美关系不会发生重大变化。她指出，美国两党都认为韩美同盟非常重要，同时她也提到民主党的胜利比预期更为强劲。相关部门正在评估首尔的外交策略，并考虑是否需要采取进一步措施。总统府表示，将继续与美国政府和国会合作，发展韩美同盟。

韩表示，首尔应对措施的某些方面需要详细分析，而其他方面可能需要采取额外措施。

总统发言人康裕贞表示，美日同盟是在美国两党支持下，经过70多年的发展而形成的。

康表示，首尔将继续根据与特朗普政府达成的协议在美国进行投资项目，具体细节将根据国家利益、商业合理性和相关程序进行审查。

发布于2026年11月5日下午1:53（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年11月5日下午5:17（韩国标准时间）

周四，韩国总理韩成淑在首尔国会出席国会预算委员会会议并发表讲话。（韩联社）

韩国总理韩成淑周四表示，尽管美国总统唐纳德·特朗普领导的共和党在本周的中期选举中遭遇惨败，但她预计韩美关系不会发生重大变化。她还补充说，美国民主党也认为韩美同盟非常重要。

“由于民主党和共和党都认为两国联盟非常重要，我认为韩朝关系不会发生太大变化，”韩在国会预算委员会会议上被一名议员要求评估选举结果时表示。

她说，民主党的胜利比预期的还要强劲。

当被问及首尔对华盛顿的外交战略时，韩表示：“有些部分我们需要逐一详细分析，而另一些部分则需要采取额外措施。”他还补充说，目前各相关部门都在审查这些问题。

总统办公室重申了其进一步发展联盟的坚定努力，并表示这一持续数十年的联盟不太可能受到选举结果的影响。

总统发言人康裕贞在新闻发布会上表示：“韩美同盟是在美国两党支持下，经过70多年的稳步发展而形成的，某些选举的结果不太可能影响到这一同盟。”

康表示，韩国政府将与美国政府以及国会密切沟通与合作，以推进美韩同盟的发展。

她补充说，首尔还将继续根据与特朗普政府达成的协议，在美国推进投资项目，并指出投资的具体细节将按照“国家利益至上”、“商业合理性”和相关程序进行审查。