Trudeau Highlights Rise of ‘Authoritarianism’ During Visit to South Korea

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responds to a question during a joint news conference with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at the Presidential Office in Seoul, South Korea, on May 17, 2023. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld

During the first full day of his visit to South Korea Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau several times mentioned the rise of “authoritarianism” around the globe and the growing tensions and conflict that have come along with it.

Trudeau made the comments while addressing the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, and he also said he raised the point during discussions with Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.

“You see right now, our world is facing a moment of uncertainty like we’ve never seen in our lifetimes,” he said at the national assembly. “Authoritarianism is gaining ground. You are front-line witnesses to regular military provocations by North Korea that cause instability on the peninsula, in the north Pacific region, and around the world.”

Accompanying the prime minister on his trip are Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly.

Trudeau and the ministers held a number of discussions on May 17 with various officials and executives, and the prime minister spoke to both Korean and Canadian media alongside Yeol following his national assembly address.

Reporters asked the two leaders about specifics relating to their private meetings, questioning in particular about what they discussed regarding China and North Korea.

“We had excellent conversations today on a broad range of topics including the impact of authoritarian states, like China, Russia, and North Korea and others,” Trudeau said.

The prime minister also spoke about the War in Ukraine and said Ukrainians are “defending the values and the principles that underpin all of our democracies around the world.”

“The fight against authoritarianism, the fight against autocracy, the fight against neighbours with bigger armies who might look to invade across the border,” he said.

Trudeau’s visit to Korea comes at a time when the Canadian Parliament is steeped in debate and committee investigations concerning Beijing’s attempts to interfere in political institutions as well as its alleged targeting of Conservative MP Michael Chong in 2021 because of a motion he sponsored in the House of Commons.

Reporters did not ask Trudeau specifically about the matter, but the prime minister said both South Korea and Canada view China as “an important economic partner,” while also saying they also need to be “clear-eyed” about their cooperation with Beijing.

“We need to know where we’re going to be competing with China on economic grounds and where we need to challenge China on human rights and other issues—something that we will both be continuing to do in ways that make sense for our own countries and our own situations,” Trudeau said.