"South Korea Has No Interest in Ukraine, Look at the Empty Seats"…Russian Professor Shares Photo of Zelensky's Speech at Korean National Assembly

"Japan Is an Exception"... 60 Koreans vs 500 Japanese

Ruling and opposition party lawmakers are watching the video speech of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held on the afternoon of the 11th at the main auditorium of the National Assembly Library in Yeouido, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] A Russian professor shared a photo of the South Korean National Assembly with about 50 members attending President Volodymyr Zelensky's virtual speech, calling it "a sign that Asia is not interested in Ukraine."

Artyom Lukin, a professor at Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok, retweeted the photo of President Volodymyr Zelensky's speech to the South Korean National Assembly on the 12th and wrote this, adding, "Japan is an exception."

He continued, "The South Korean National Assembly recorded the lowest attendance. Look at the empty seats," and pointed out, "President Zelensky said that South Korea was able to survive thanks to military support from the international community. In a similar existential threat situation, he is asking for our help. However, many South Korean politicians do not hear it."

Members of parliaments from around the world giving standing ovations after the speech by Ukrainian President Zelensky. (Clockwise from top left) April 8 in Finland, March 31 in Belgium, March 31 in Australia, March 22 in Italy parliaments. /Photo by EPA Yonhap News

Earlier, on the 11th, President Zelensky delivered a virtual speech for about 15 minutes in the underground auditorium of the South Korean National Assembly Library. After Ukraine was invaded by Russia, he gave virtual speeches in 23 countries starting with the European Union (EU), and South Korea became the 24th country.

However, the atmosphere of the speech was quite different from that in the United States or Japan.

During the U.S. congressional speech, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, U.S. lawmakers filled the auditorium, and a standing ovation erupted at the end of the speech. Also, during the Japanese National Diet speech on the 23rd of last month, it was reported that about 500 out of 710 members (465 in the House of Representatives and 245 in the House of Councillors) attended, and a standing ovation was given after the speech.

However, in the South Korean National Assembly, only about 60 out of 300 members attended. Many seats in the auditorium were empty, and there was no standing ovation at the end of the speech.

Lee Kwang-jae, chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, explained the low attendance of lawmakers by saying, "If there is an appointment at 6 p.m., most lawmakers leave by 5 p.m.," and added, "It is important that the leaders and representatives of the three parties gathered in one place."

Meanwhile, Professor Lukin also shared an article on the 10th about the rising popularity of Russian king crab in South Korea as its price dropped, writing, "For ordinary South Koreans, access to delicious seafood is much more important than the war in Eastern Europe."