Gordon Chang, attorney and expert on Northeast Asian affairs. Website capture

 A brief remark by American conservative commentator Gordon Chang is shaking the diplomatic stage ahead of the Korea-U.S. summit. On August 24 (Korean time), he posted a strong message on social media (X), stating, “Remove Lee!” 

In South Korea, this has been transliterated as “Remove Lee” and has become a hot topic of conversation. It is being interpreted not merely as one individual expressing anger, but as a sentiment that encapsulates a deep-seated distrust of Korean politics, democracy, and, by extension, the structure of the alliance.

Gordon Chang is well-known as an expert on China. While his remarks cannot be viewed as the official position of the U.S. government, he has long been active in Washington’s conservative networks and maintains ties to the Trump camp, effectively serving as a "warning signal" that previews the views of the conservative establishment. This latest statement is being interpreted as the concentrated result of the distrust and concerns held by the international conservative bloc regarding South Korea.

The direct reason for Chang’s call to “Remove Lee” is his distrust of President Lee Jae-myung’s approach to governance. Since President Lee took office, controversies over media censorship, attempts to seize control of the judiciary, and allegations of suppressing the opposition have emerged one after another. While these might be dismissed as domestic political squabbles within Korea, the perspective from the outside is different. Washington’s conservative circles define this as a “democratic backslide.”

His expression conveys a strong sense of urgency, suggesting that South Korean democracy is not merely faltering, but that its very institutions are on the verge of collapse. “Remove Lee!” is not a simple suggestion; it is closer to a declaration that the administration itself has lost its legitimacy and trust.

The reason Gordon Chang’s message is even more impactful is its connection to China. He asserted that President Lee is “dragging Korea into the Chinese camp.” This goes beyond mere domestic political criticism; it is a matter directly linked to the entirety of the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy.

The core of the second Trump administration’s foreign policy is the strengthening of the anti-China front. If South Korea departs from this front or adopts an ambiguous stance, the entire U.S. strategic framework faces instability. Therefore, the Korea-U.S. summit is highly likely to become a stage that determines “which side Korea will stand on,” transcending issues of trade, investment, and defense costs.

In this context, “Remove Lee” functions as a symbolic slogan for a loyalty test to the values-based alliance demanded by the U.S., going well beyond the controversy over democracy within Korea. It serves as a mechanism that translates distrust of the Korean president directly into a warning regarding all of South Korean diplomacy.

The slogan “Remove Lee!” may not remain a one-off message. 

Within the South Korean conservative camp, there are already movements to adopt the Korean transliteration of “Remove Lee.” Short, intuitive, and carrying a satirical edge, this slogan can easily be repeated at rallies, in official statements, and as hashtags on social media. It possesses high utility as a political weapon.

The path for its international proliferation is also clear. If conservative U.S. media outlets report on this, the very fact that the slogan “Remove Lee!” has been directed at the Korean president becomes news in itself. This could elevate the controversy over the legitimacy of the Korean government from a domestic conflict to an international issue.

Conversely, it is clear that the ruling party and pro-government factions will push back, labeling these remarks as interference in domestic affairs. However, such a backlash could paradoxically increase the slogan’s recognition. As political polarization deepens, the symbolic power of the slogan may only grow stronger.

The official agenda for the upcoming Korea-U.S. summit will include trade, defense costs, and investment cooperation. However, the atmosphere of the talks has already changed. Since Gordon Chang’s remarks, a fundamental question—"Is the South Korean president a trustworthy partner?"—has become an invisible item on the negotiation table.

President Trump may not use the phrase “Remove Lee!” directly. However, it is highly likely that he will pose questions such as, “Is South Korean democracy functioning properly?” or “How can you explain the controversy over the suppression of the opposition?” This will inevitably force the Korean side into a defensive position, leaving them at a disadvantage in discussions on trade and security issues.

The reasons behind Gordon Chang’s cry of “Remove Lee” are complex. It is the result of three combined factors: distrust in the backsliding of South Korean democracy, wariness regarding the China variable, and the testing of the Korea-U.S. alliance’s reliability. While this slogan may not appear on the official summit agenda, it is already altering the background noise of the entire summit.

Furthermore, “Remove Lee” has the potential to become a new rallying cry for the front lines of democracy within South Korean politics. This term, thrown out by the international conservative bloc, is showing signs of transforming into a symbol intertwined with the legitimacy crisis of the current administration within Korean society.

“Remove Lee!” is not just a simple remark. It is a sharp question asking where South Korean democracy stands today, and a warning that has thrown down the gauntlet for the alliance.

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