A handshake between President Trump and President Lee Jae-myung, with the US and China flags and the Korean Peninsula in the background, along with Trump's thumbs-up gesture, simultaneously illustrates the visible scene and hidden meanings of the summit. Composite image: ROK-US-Japan Alliance

Trump's Image Politics and the Limited Recognition of the Lee Jae-myung Administration

Before the summit, President Trump wrote on social media, "South Korea is in a situation like a purge or revolution. You can't do business in such a place."

This message, which characterized the South Korean political climate as unstable, raised expectations among South Korean conservatives. The conservative camp anticipated that Trump would strongly pressure the Lee Jae-myung administration and shake up the political landscape by even bringing up the issue of former President Yoon Suk-yeol.

However, the publicly disclosed scenes of the summit fell short of these expectations. Conservatives pondered, "Why did Trump stop at this point?" This led to interpretations that the issue of former President Yoon Suk-yeol's bail might have been discussed as a latent bargaining chip.

In his opening remarks at the Oval Office, Trump mentioned the possibility of renegotiating trade agreements, to which President Lee Jae-myung responded by pledging to contribute to the revitalization of US manufacturing.

However, the substantive issues were elsewhere.

In the economic sector, the previously agreed-upon $350 billion US investment and the $150 billion joint investment in shipbuilding were merely reaffirmed; no new agreements were reached.

In security matters, issues concerning the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea were discussed, but South Korea, mindful of China and North Korea, remained at a general level.

Instead, the searches of churches and the US military base in Pyeongtaek were mentioned by Trump, forcing the Lee Jae-myung administration to issue defensive explanations.

After the Luncheon, Trump's Narrative of Victory

Immediately after the private luncheon, Trump declared victory, stating, "South Korea will accept my demands." This statement, made in the absence of a joint statement, was a typical example of image politics. Regardless of substantive agreements, he projected a "I won" frame to international media, which resonated with his supporters.

Furthermore, President Lee Jae-myung's demeanor in his remarks reinforced Trump's narrative of victory. In public settings, President Lee highly praised Trump's leadership and enthusiastically lauded the revitalization of US manufacturing.

While diplomatic courtesy can be taken into account, the excessive and one-sided praise ultimately came across as sycophantic remarks that supported Trump's image of victory.

From a domestic political perspective, it left the impression that "Lee Jae-myung has fallen under Trump's shadow." Based on this, Trump further solidified the narrative that "South Korea has accepted my framework."

South Korea's Position and Explanations

The South Korean government summarized the significance of the summit as "strengthening the alliance with the United States without severing ties with China."

President Lee Jae-myung emphasized economic cooperation but had to explain that there were no political motivations behind the issues concerning churches and the base.

Regarding North Korea, the stance remained at a general principle of keeping the door for dialogue open. On the international stage, the impression of defensiveness was strong.

A Cold Assessment of Gains and Losses

To be blunt, Trump had many gains and few losses. Even without a joint statement, he preempted the image of victory with a single luncheon remark, and the investment promises were packaged as political achievements within the US.

The issues of churches and the base remain as potential leverage for future pressure.

On the other hand, the Lee Jae-myung administration gained some international recognition but ended up with security ambiguity and defensive explanations. The absence of joint achievements increased domestic political burdens.

A Summit Without Conclusion, Lingering Shadows

Although outwardly it was a "summit without conclusion" lacking even a joint statement, the underlying outcomes are clear.

Trump positioned himself as the victor of image politics, while Lee Jae-myung was merely recognized as a limited negotiating partner.

The disappointment of the South Korean conservatives reveals the true nature of this summit. There was no strong pressure or political breakthrough as anticipated, leaving only the reaffirmation of economic ties, security ambiguity, and increased political burdens.

Particularly amid the controversy over alleged anti-human rights retaliation against former President Yoon Suk-yeol, and the consecutive passage of laws such as the Yellow Envelope Act that constrain the business community, attention is focused on how this summit will bring about changes in the Lee Jae-myung administration's aggressive drive.

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