Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in called for minimizing the use of force and pursuing diplomatic solutions in the U.S.-Iran conflict during his visit to Los Angeles. He warned that military actions in the Middle East lead to cycles of hatred and revenge. This is his first overseas trip since leaving office.
Former President Moon Jae-in made these remarks on March 5, 2026, at a dinner event hosted by the nonprofit Pacific Century Institute in Los Angeles. Having led South Korea from 2017 to 2022, Moon pointed to the war in the Middle East, stating that "the use of force leads to a cycle of hatred and revenge," and urged efforts to resolve the conflict through diplomatic and peaceful means.
He expressed concern over extremism around the world, emphasizing that "peace through dialogue and cooperation is the only solution in an era of growing tension and confrontation." The trip was at the invitation of the U.S. think tank RAND Corp. and the Pacific Century Institute, marking his first overseas journey since leaving office.
Moon is scheduled to join a roundtable discussion with security experts at RAND on March 6 to address inter-Korean relations and the international order. His comments come amid escalating U.S.-Iran tensions, underscoring the need for peaceful approaches.
