Chung Mong-Joon sends protest letter to U.S

On Thursday, Chung Mong-Joon, an independent National Assemblyman who is a member of the Assembly`s Reunification, Foreign Affairs, and Trade Committee, sent a letter of protest to both U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and United States Ambassador to Korea Stephen Bosworth.

The letter protests a warning made by the U.S. State Department on its home page that since indiscriminate attacks on Americans recently occurred, those traveling in Korea should go around in groups and make sure to be careful and protect themselves.

National Assemblyman Chung states in his letter that although many Koreans either residing or traveling in America had been physically injured in the past, the Korean government had never put the public on notice about traveling to the United States. He demanded a correction, saying that he regrets that it appears as if the Korean government is not taking seriously its responsibilities for the safety of Americans either residing or traveling in Korea.

He also enclosed a contribution article by Han Seung-Joo, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, which deals with solutions for problems in the Korea-America relationship.