January 19, South Korean President Moon Jae-in met with the end-of-coming U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris and presented him with a farewell gift, soju from the Andong region of South Korea.
According to South Korea’s Central Daily on the 20th, Moon Jae-in met with Harris who left office on the 20th in Tsung Watai on the afternoon of the 19th and talked with him for about 30 minutes.
Moon Jae-in talked about the past when Harris took office and submitted his credentials in July 2018.
At that time, Harris said to Moon Jae-in, “I heard that you like Anton’s cooking wine. When we have a drink together.” Moon Jae-in regretted this.
“In the end, we couldn’t drink it.”
Harris said, “I will leave with good memories of South Korea.” According to Kang Min-suk, spokesman of Qingwatai, Ambassador Harris believes that he can play a role in North Korea-US relations and is a “highlight moment” during his term of office.
In July 2018, Harris, a former commander of the U.S. Pacific Command and a naval admiral, was appointed as the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea. Harris was born in Japan to a Japanese mother.
His Japanese identity, coupled with the “Japanese-style beard” on his upper lip, once made the South Korean people dissatisfied and aroused many painful memories of Japanese colonial rule.
To this end, Harris broadcast his shaving process live on social networking last July.
