► Anchored in mutual respect and common values of democracy, human rights, and freedom, the ROK-U.S. alliance has played an indispensable role in promoting democracy, peace, economic prosperity, and security in Asia and beyond over the past seven decades.

► The 70-year-long alliance has a track record of supporting mutual interests of the two like-minded nations across the Pacific while overcoming challenges and adapting to ever-changing global economic and security environments.

► In order for South Korea and the United States to advance anew toward the next 70 years, all of us need to carefully cultivate this invaluable alliance and make sure it evolves in line with the changing times.

The seven decades old alliance between the Republic of Korea and the United States has just embarked on a renewed chapter of a greater future in terms of its depth, width, and overall scope.

In the historic year marking the 70th anniversary of the ROK-U.S. alliance, President Yoon has become the first leader of an Indo-Pacific country to make a state visit to the United States under the Biden administration.

It is quite reassuring to observe that not yet one year into his presidency, President Yoon has spoken frequently of the importance of freedom. He has also underscored the importance of the ROK-U.S. alliance, calling the relationship “the foundation” of freedom. While visiting Seoul last May, President Biden echoed that sentiment and praised the relationship as reaching “new heights.”

President Yoon’s recent state visit to Washington D.C. and the summit between our two presidents were not just a ceremonial event. The two heads of the states laid a wreath of remembrance at Washington's Korean War Veterans Memorial in a powerful deed of alliance in action.

Perhaps not so surprisingly, the notable diplomatic occasions last week turned out to be a substantive success in terms of renewing and elevating the bilateral partnership between the Republic of Korea and the United States to a new level of pragmatic bilateral and global engagement.

As a policy person, I have been keenly interested in the ever-evolving ROK-U.S. relationship. I have visited Korea countless times since 1971. Looking back, I must say that it is always great and refreshing to be back in Korea. As all of you know, South Korea is very dynamic, politically and economically, to say the least.

Since the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty in 1953, our relationship has proven to be one of the strongest and most successful built by America since the end of World War II.

Indeed, our partnership is a time-tested alliance. Those words really sum up the seven-decade partnership between the United States and the Republic of Korea. Though culturally different, the two nations share the same values. Seoul has demonstrated to be a trustworthy and capable partner, both in terms of national security and commercial dealings. Yet much more can and should be done.

Anchored in mutual respect and common values of democracy, human rights, and freedom, the ROK-U.S. alliance has played an indispensable role in promoting democracy, peace, economic prosperity, and security in Asia and beyond over the past seven decades. The enduring, proven partnership between the two willing allies continues to serve as one of the keystones of America’s foreign policy.

Once a recipient of U.S. development assistance, South Korea has become one of the most competitive economies in the world and notably transformed itself from a security consumer to America’s capable and reliable partner of providing security to other nations.

Not ambiguously, the United States and South Korea share a relationship that is truly unique among our closest friends and allies. Many of America’s main alliances today are with countries the U.S. was once forced to fight against. Japan and Germany are obvious examples, but in the early days of the American history, it was with England that we were most often at war. Clearly, adversaries can become friends.

However, Americans and South Koreans have never been enemies. Our two countries’ bilateral relationship was forged in the struggles of World War II and, in its aftermath, the battle against communist aggression from China and Russia.

Fighting together against common enemies has indeed forged a lasting, vibrant relationship between the two long-time allies, which have long supported each other, defended each other, and depended on each other.

As President Biden summed it up just a few days ago, our alliance is “an unbreakable bond forged in bravery and the sacrifice of our people.”

The 70-year-long alliance has a track record of supporting mutual interests of the two like-minded nations across the Pacific while overcoming challenges and adapting to ever-changing global economic and security environments.

As the years have passed, these shared values have bound the two nations closer and closer. This is not to say that relations have never been strained. Yet despite numerous ups and downs—or perhaps thanks to them—Washington today considers the Republic of Korea a model ally.

Needless to say, South Korea’s relationship with the U.S. has been underpinned and reinforced by a strong foundation of shared entrepreneurship, enduring people-to-people ties, and close business cooperation led by global companies in both countries.

Clearly, the ROK-U.S. alliance has been fulfilling its promises. Yet, more can and should be done, given the fact that there are untapped, innovative ways to broaden the work going forward together. It is in the clear interest of Seoul and Washington to elevate their partnership to the next level of greater practical engagement.

In order for South Korea and the United States to advance anew toward the next 70 years, all of us need to carefully cultivate this invaluable alliance and make sure it evolves in line with the changing times.

Having started as a military alliance, our relationship has subsequently deepened exchanges and cooperation in a wide range of areas such as economy, society, and culture, and expanded into an economic alliance through the KORUS Free Trade Agreement in the dawn of the 21st century.

As all of you would agree, we have so much to learn from each other with so many similar interests and so many opportunities to create more prosperous and free societies for a greater number of people.

One of the main lessons I have taken from my decades in Washington is that in Washington, there are no permanent defeats. But neither are permanent victories. There are only permanent battles, particularly battles of ideas. In my years as President of The Heritage Foundation, I always argued and still believe that "ideas have consequences."

We need more of good ideas and far less of bad ideas. But where do these ideas come from? How do they influence the policymakers and eventually all of us? Ideas are produced by individuals who elaborate and expand the ideas. Then, it takes an institution to help popularize and advocate ideas. What really matters is how to generate, facilitate, and ensure the virtuous cycle of these three Is – ideas, individuals, and institutions. It’s a process that requires our commitment to values and principles. That’s why our alliance matters. The ROK-U.S. relationship is a time-tested alliance of ideas, individuals, and institutions.

To that end, it is encouraging to see that our two presidents have worked side by side to welcome the Washington Declaration, under which the U.S. will make every effort to consult with South Korea on any possible nuclear weapons employmentshare plans for their use, increase joint training for the possible use of nuclear weapons, and deploy those weapons to the Korean Peninsula with enhanced visibility.

As it has been, our alliance is a process of challenges confronting us and elevating our shared resolve to deepen and broaden our political, economic, security, and people-to-people ties to a new level. I firmly believe that all the key discussions that took place last week were pragmatic steps in the right direction towards a brighter future of our alliance.

Through the interplay between innovative thinking and follow-up action by countless individuals, we can keep adding and multiplying a more positive future based on our shared institutions and values for the Republic of Korea and the United States of America.

Now is the time to act on that.