Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement congratulating President Park Geun-hye on her inauguration as the first female President of the Republic of Korea:

Chairman Royce said, “I congratulate President Park, northeast Asia’s first elected female leader, on her inauguration as President of the Republic of Korea.  South Korea is one of our nation’s closest allies.  I look forward to working with President Park’s government to strengthen the U.S.-Korea relationship and boost economic prosperity for both our nations.  As we face a growing threat from the belligerent North Korean regime, I am committed to working with President Park to maintain peace and security in one of the world’s most important regions.”

NOTE: Earlier this year, Chairman Royce led a bipartisan delegation to the Republic of Korea to meet with President-Elect Park Geun-hye and members of Korean National Assembly. A long-time friend of South Korea, Chairman Royce was one of the leading champions of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement.

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