Video pairs Statue of Liberty with King Sejong statue, highlights alliance milestones

Aligns with Ambassador Steel's outreach efforts since taking post

US Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel delivers remarks at the "Freedom 250 Fireworks and Drone Show" held at a cruise terminal in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on Sept. 4. [Yonhap]
US Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel delivers remarks at the "Freedom 250 Fireworks and Drone Show" held at a cruise terminal in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on Sept. 4. [Yonhap]

The US Embassy in Seoul has produced a commemorative promotional video marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, placing the growth of the South Korea-US alliance at its center. The release comes amid a series of friction points between the two countries over trade and security, and is widely seen as an effort to reaffirm the durability of the alliance.

The embassy said Thursday it would begin broadcasting the video through KTX cabin screens and other public channels. Rather than presenting a straightforward chronology of American history, the video interweaves the development of the bilateral relationship to underscore the strength of the alliance.

The video uses cross-cutting edits to juxtapose iconic symbols, cultural traditions and industrial achievements from both nations — the Statue of Liberty alongside the King Sejong statue, American football alongside the traditional Korean game of "gossiumpnori," space rockets alongside cargo ships, and robots alongside semiconductors. It then delivers the message that South Korea and the United States share "2 Souls, One Story," closing with the line: "Let's open the next 250 years together."

The parallel arrangement of each country's defining assets portrays a close partnership and offers a forward-looking vision. Particularly amid recent discord between the two sides across trade and security, the video is seen as a deliberate move by the embassy to remind the public of the unshakeable foundation of the alliance.

The effort also aligns with the public outreach of Korean American Ambassador Michelle Steel, who took up her post in July and has visited sites such as Gwanghwamun and Namdaemun to demonstrate her affection for Korea. The video broadcast is part of a broader public diplomacy push by the embassy to deepen emotional ties with the Korean public and build goodwill.


sunpine@heraldcorp.com