President Yoon Places Hand Over Heart and Salutes During US National Anthem... "A Sign of Respect for the Host Country"

President Biden's Team Posts Photo on Official SNS
"Yoon May Not Know National Ceremony Protocol" Controversy Spreads
Presidential Office Explains "Not a Protocol Breach"

The office of U.S. President Joe Biden released photos on the official Instagram account on the 22nd, showing the welcome dinner during the South Korea-U.S. summit./Photo by POTUS (President of the United States) Instagram capture.

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Controversy has arisen after a photo captured President Yoon Suk-yeol placing his hand over his chest during the playing of the U.S. national anthem at the welcome dinner for U.S. President Joe Biden's visit to Korea. The presidential spokesperson's office explained that this was "a sign of respect toward the other country and not a breach of protocol."

On the 22nd, President Biden's team posted an official photo on Instagram taken during the welcome dinner on the 21st, showing President Yoon during the playing of the U.S. national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner."

In the photo, President Biden and President Yoon, standing to his right, are saluting the U.S. flag, while Park Byeong-seok, the Speaker of the National Assembly standing to Biden's left, is standing at attention. It was also reported that Foreign Minister Park Jin was standing at attention at that time.

As this fact became known, online communities criticized President Yoon, suggesting he might be unaware of the national ceremony protocol. Additionally, a photo from 2017 resurfaced showing former President Moon Jae-in and his wife not placing their hands over their chests during the U.S. national ceremony at the welcome dinner for former U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife, leading to comparisons with President Yoon.

As the controversy spread, the presidential spokesperson's office issued a statement on the 23rd, saying, "Placing one's hand over the chest during the playing of another country's national anthem is a sign of respect toward the other country and cannot be considered a breach of protocol." The office further explained, "In strictly protocol-compliant military ceremonies, salutes are maintained throughout the playing of both countries' national anthems. According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's Korea Flag Act and the Government Protocol Manual, there are no restrictions on showing respect during the playing of another country's national anthem."

Meanwhile, although there are no provisions in the Flag Act or its enforcement ordinances prohibiting saluting foreign flags or national anthems, diplomatic custom generally dictates that one does not salute foreign national anthems or flags but instead shows respect by standing at attention or similar postures.