<野> Standing Committee Member: "President Yoon's Outburst Damages National Dignity Through Diplomatic Incident... Will Review Through Current Issue Inquiries"

President Yoon Suk-yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden are having a conversation after concluding the 7th Replenishment Conference of the Global Fund held at a building in New York, USA, on the 21st (local time).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Opposition members of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee criticized President Yoon Seok-yeol's summit diplomacy as "diplomatic blunders with offensive remarks," saying it has "greatly damaged the nation's dignity."

On the 22nd, Democratic Party foreign affairs committee members and independent lawmaker Kim Hong-gul issued a statement saying, "Following the Yoon administration's 'empty-handed diplomacy' and 'condolence diplomacy,' President Yoon's 'diplomatic blunders with offensive remarks' have greatly diminished South Korea's national prestige." They criticized, "There was a fiasco where condolences were omitted during the president's condolence diplomacy, the Japanese Prime Minister personally visited to take a single photo, and the conversation with U.S. President Joe Biden lasted only 48 seconds as they briefly passed each other in the meeting room."

The opposition lawmakers mentioned, "What is even more absurd is that as the president left the meeting room, his remarks showing disrespect to an allied country were fully captured on video, causing a major diplomatic scandal and great controversy."

President Yoon was recorded on this day walking out of the Global Fund 7th Replenishment Conference, saying to those around him, including Foreign Minister Park Jin, "If these XX in the National Assembly don't approve it, how embarrassing would it be for Biden?"

The opposition lawmakers stated, "The failure of unprepared summit diplomacy was already predictable," adding, "This is an 'international embarrassment diplomatic disaster' with no purpose, strategy, or achievements from the summit meetings." They warned, "Diplomatic failure does not end with the failure of the administration; it must be remembered that it results in fatal consequences for our people, businesses, and national security."

Lee Jae-jung, the Democratic Party foreign affairs committee secretary, said, "We will review everything not only through urgent inquiries but also through various channels," adding, "There are things to check immediately with government officials as well as urgent inquiries, and we will activate all channels."

Regarding some opposition lawmakers' calls for adopting a resolution urging an apology, he said, "It is something that can certainly be done at the National Assembly level," and added, "If we can quickly reach an agreement and announce a position, it would be appropriate to do so promptly at the right time."