"Uninformed Remarks Showing No Understanding of the ABCs of Diplomacy"
[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Yoon Gun-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, who said that "the national prestige has changed since the president changed," calling it "ignorant remarks."
Yoon, considered the right-hand man of former President Moon Jae-in, appeared on KBS Radio's "Choi Kyung-young's Strongest Current Affairs" on the 23rd and stated, "Although it may seem like boasting, President Joe Biden's visit to Korea was coordinated during the Moon Jae-in administration."
Earlier, Lee said at a campaign event at the public market in Yeongcheon, Gyeongbuk, regarding the Korea-US summit, "President Biden came to Korea instead of Japan, held a summit with our President Yoon Seok-yeol, and had a dinner. It feels like the national prestige of the Republic of Korea has changed just by changing one president."
In response, Yoon said, "That is truly an ignorant remark, not even knowing the facts or the ABCs of diplomacy," and rebutted, "While the summit was held under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, it was possible because of the solid diplomacy toward the US that continued from the Moon Jae-in government."
He added, "The People Power Party often claims that the Korea-US alliance has collapsed, but if it had really collapsed, would a summit have been possible just 10 days after the government took office?"
Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, and U.S. President Joe Biden. Photo by Lee Jun-seok Facebook capture
Regarding the achievements of President Yoon's Korea-US summit, he said, "The reality is that we cannot only look to the US. Therefore, a strategy is needed to wisely balance between the US and China while maximizing national interests," and added, "During the Moon Jae-in administration, there were considerable diplomatic achievements through New Southern policies to respond to the US Indo-Pacific strategy and to avoid provoking China, thereby maximizing national interests. It is very regrettable that such aspects have disappeared under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration."
Furthermore, Yoon emphasized about the phone call between President Biden and former President Moon, "Wanting to meet or call a former president after their term ends means, in a word, that the person is trustworthy," and said, "It signifies the deep trust in former President Moon's diplomacy."
He added, "President Biden expressed gratitude for the Moon administration's efforts to strengthen the Korea-US alliance, and former President Moon conveyed appreciation for Korea being the first stop on Biden's first Asian tour."
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