Trump: was referring to raids in churches in South Korea

Trump: was referring to raids in churches in South Korea

President Donald Trump's recent remarks on South Korea's political stability have sparked concern ahead of his meeting with President Lee Jae-myung. Trump questioned the stability of South Korea, stating, "WHAT IS GOING ON IN SOUTH KOREA? Seems like a Purge or Revolution," and threatened to not do business with Seoul [2]. This comes as South Korea has been experiencing a series of large-scale raids on churches and faith institutions, with prominent figures such as Rev. Young-hoon Lee of Yoido Full Gospel Church and Dr. Hak Ja Han of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification being targeted [1]. These raids have been criticized for violating democratic norms and infringing upon religious freedom [1].

The raids have been part of a broader trend of left-wing hostility toward religion, which has also been seen in other countries like Japan, France, and Canada [1]. The Trump administration has been critical of these actions, viewing them as a threat to the U.S.-Korea alliance, which is based on shared commitments to freedom, including the freedom to worship [1].

The upcoming meeting between Trump and Lee Jae-myung is expected to discuss tariffs, trade, and military cooperation, but the political climate in South Korea may overshadow these discussions. The new trade deal agreed upon by the two countries imposes a 15% tariff on South Korean imports, but U.S. exports to the country will not be tariffed. The deal also includes a $350 billion investment fund, but the specifics of its operation and beneficiaries remain unclear [3].

The political turmoil in South Korea has been ongoing since the former President, Yoon Suk Yeol, briefly imposed martial law last December, leading to his eventual ouster from office. Lee Jae-myung, who led the campaign to oust Yoon, was subsequently elected president [3].

In light of these developments, the Trump administration is expected to press Seoul on the issue of religious freedom during the upcoming summit. Gingrich, in his commentary for The Washington Times, has urged the Trump administration to make the defense of religious freedom central to U.S. foreign policy [1].

References:
[1] https://unificationnews.eu/korean-faith-crackdown-usa-urged-to-confront-it/
[2] https://www.axios.com/2025/08/25/trump-blasts-south-korea-unstable-before-meeting
[3] https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-south-korea-trade-lee-jae-myung-f80efa062dcc1b2430bbe3f12d6d1b6e