SEOUL, South Korea — South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has dusted off his golf golf equipment in an try and forge a bond with President-elect Donald Trump, an avid golf lover.
The presidential workplace stated Tuesday that Yoon started practising the sport for the primary time in eight years in preparation for a potential spherical of golf with the American president.
Since his election, Trump’s “America first” strategy has raised issues it may negatively have an effect on the American protection dedication to South Korea and harm the commerce pursuits of the Northeast Asian nation in numerous methods, together with elevated tariffs.
Some consultants say it’s essential to construct a detailed private friendship with Trump in the course of the transition interval earlier than he formally takes workplace in January.
“A lot may rely upon whether or not Yoon is ready to strike up constructive chemistry with Trump instantly in the course of the transition and foster a detailed private friendship to persuade him to need to assist and advance Seoul’s pursuits,” stated Duyeon Kim, a senior analyst on the Heart for a New American Safety in Washington.
Yoon and Trump mentioned strengthening bilateral cooperation and agreed to carry an in-person assembly quickly throughout a cellphone name on Thursday. The South Korean president informed reporters later that whereas issues could not stay the identical as below the Biden administration, “we’ve been making ready to hedge these dangers for a very long time.”
And apparently, a recreation of golf could also be what’s wanted.
Native media stated Yoon went to a Seoul golf course on Saturday, however the presidential workplace stated it could not affirm the experiences.
A senior presidential official, talking on situation of anonymity in a background briefing, stated that whereas he didn’t understand how onerous Yoon practiced golf, coaching was crucial as “our president additionally has to hit a ball correctly to get conversations occurring” with Trump, who has “excellent” golf expertise.
Yoon isn’t the primary world chief to attempt to use golf to develop relations with Trump.
When he was in workplace, Japan’s assassinated prime minister, Shinzo Abe, struck up a private friendship with then-President Trump, on the greens of golf golf equipment each in Japan and the U.S. In 2017, Abe stated {that a} spherical of golf with Trump was a great probability to loosen up and talk about troublesome points.
