Key facts
- Dan Koh said he is very concerned about the South Korea-US alliance under President Donald Trump.
- Koh pledged to do everything he can to restore the alliance he said was thriving under Joe Biden.
- Koh doubted Trump would seek productive, peaceful progress between South and North Korea.
- Koh criticized Trump's treatment of Korean immigrants and Korean workers and tariff policies toward US allies.
- Koh said he hoped to collaborate closely with Korean American Senator Andy Kim.
Dan Koh, a Democrat who won a House seat representing Massachusetts in the midterm elections, said at a press conference in Washington on November 11, 2026 that he is very concerned about the South Korea-US alliance under President Donald Trump. The event was hosted by the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.
"I'm very concerned about the relationship," Koh said, adding that the alliance should remain strong regardless of whether a Republican or Democratic president occupies the White House. He pledged to do everything he can to restore the alliance that he said was thriving under Joe Biden, in whose White House he worked.
Koh criticized Trump's treatment of Korean immigrants and Korean workers in the US, citing an incident involving South Koreans in Georgia last year, as well as the administration's tariff policies toward US allies. Asked about the possibility of Trump meeting Kim during an Asia trip, Koh said he supported diplomacy with North Korea but doubted the president's approach would produce constructive results for either South Korea or the United States.
"I do not think that this is a president who's going to look for a productive, peaceful progress forward between South and North Korea," Koh said. "I think he's looking for notes on how to be a dictator, and I don't think that we should be playing that game."
On strengthening the alliance, Koh said he hoped to work closely with Korean American Senator Andy Kim, who had already contacted him about potential legislative cooperation. He said he would like to visit South Korea after taking office and stressed the importance of people-to-people exchanges, saying he wants South Koreans to feel welcome in the United States.
Asked about Seoul's interest in expanding bilateral cooperation on uranium enrichment and shipbuilding, Koh expressed openness to considering proposals that could strengthen the alliance without endorsing any specific initiative. "I think anything that the South Korean government would be interested in and try to strengthen the alliance is mutually beneficial," he said.