The summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has drawn mixed feelings from Koreans who call Nashville home.
The summit would make it the first time since a seating American president met with a North Korean leader.
“It’s really surprising to see this moment but I’m really happy,” Yoonjong Jeong said.
Jeong moved to the U.S. from Seoul a decade ago and has since taken the position to lead worship at Nashville Korean United Methodist Church in Brentwood.
The church has gained more than 400 Korean members over the years. Jeong said he is excited about the international milestone.
“I pray for the summit and I really want it to go peaceful in many ways,” he added.
North Korea dismantling its nuclear weapons program would be the biggest topic of discussion during the summit, and accomplishment if a verified agreement is reached.
For Jeong, he is staying optimistic about President Trump’s unorthodox approach to things because it could mean a better relationship between South and North Korea.
“I hope he could do it. That outsider mind can help with big issues,” Jeong said.
However, he acknowledged that not all local Koreans are optimistic or hopeful. He said older generations who felt the ripple effect of the war decades ago are highly uncertain.
Jeong mentioned that some South Korean politicians view the summit as a “reality show.”
The likelihood of Kim Jong Un letting go of its nuclear weapons has the entire world watching.
One employee at a popular Korean business in west Nashville highly doubts the dictator would come to a compromise.
