Presidential Office: "Yoon Seok-yeol Leaving Early During North Korean Missile Provocation? ... Fake News"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The Presidential Office expressed "deep regret" on the 15th regarding Yoon Ho-jung, the co-chair of the Democratic Party's Emergency Response Committee, criticizing President Yoon Seok-yeol's "tardiness" in commuting daily from Seocho-dong to Yongsan.

Kang In-seon, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, stated at a briefing at the government complex that day, "The claims made by Chairman Yoon at today's local election candidate meeting about the president's commute are completely untrue," adding, "We deeply regret Chairman Yoon's remarks, which were made without verifying basic facts." Kang pointed out, "The public has been watching the president's activities, including his commute, in real time since his inauguration," and said, "The claim that the president is late while receiving questions from reporters every morning on his way to work is absurd."

Kang emphasized, "Some reports that the president left early during North Korea's missile provocations have already been declared fake news," and added, "He received briefings in the office late into the evening that day." He continued, "The president's work does not stop 24 hours a day. The concept of commuting itself does not apply," and criticized, "It is hard to understand why the Democratic Party, with governing experience, would make false claims despite knowing these circumstances." He also urged the Democratic Party, saying, "Efforts to build a foundation for unity and cooperation are shared by both the president and the opposition," and "We hope you will assist in national governance based on your governing experience."

Earlier, Chairman Yoon stated at the Busan Party Headquarters local election candidate meeting held at BEXCO in Busan, "The inconvenience to Seoul citizens is indescribable," and said, "Every morning, many citizens are late by 20 to 30 minutes to make way for the president's commute." He added, "The inconvenience to citizens is so severe that I now suspect the president is deliberately being late every day," and said, "He doesn't even arrive before 9 a.m." He further claimed, "While being late like this, is he properly handling state affairs? Recently, North Korea fired three short-range missiles, but the NSC (National Security Council) meeting was not even held. It is said that President Yoon was informed of the missile launch and just left work promptly at 6 p.m."