Despite Presidential Office Clarification... Foreign Media Translate Yoon's '이XX' Remarks as 'FXXXers'

Bloomberg, AFP Report on Yoon's Controversial Remarks
Presidential Office: "Not Biden but 'Nallimyeon'... Our Opposition, Not the US"

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

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jung-wan] Controversy has erupted over President Yoon Suk-yeol’s use of profanity and offensive language following a brief talk with U.S. President Joe Biden during his visit to the United States, with major foreign media outlets reporting the incident consecutively.

Bloomberg News reported on the 22nd (local time) that "(President Yoon) was caught on camera making insulting remarks about U.S. lawmakers after a brief meeting with President Joe Biden to discuss issues including U.S. electric vehicle subsidies," translating the controversial phrase "이 XX" as "idiot."

Earlier, President Yoon attended the 7th Replenishment Conference of the Global Fund held in the U.S. and had a roughly 48-second conversation with President Biden. After leaving the venue, a scene was captured by reporters’ cameras where he appeared to say to Foreign Minister Park Jin and others, "If these XX in the National Assembly don’t approve it, what will Biden do, feeling embarrassed?" This sparked controversy. The presidential office later clarified that the part known as "Biden" in the remark was actually "날리면 (if it is dropped)."

Bloomberg added, "The two leaders had scheduled an official meeting this week on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly," but "instead, they had a casual chat at a charity event to raise funds for infectious disease control." It also quoted a senior presidential office official in New York saying to reporters, "President Yoon’s remarks were informal and unverified," and noted that "Yoon’s impromptu remarks faced ridicule from opposition lawmakers in South Korea."

Bloomberg also covered the controversy raised during U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Korea and provided explanations about the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which offers up to $7,500 in tax credits exclusively for North American-made electric vehicles.

AFP also reported on the controversy, translating President Yoon’s profanity "이 XX들" as "these fXXXers."

AFP described President Yoon’s "foul-mouthed criticism" as spreading, stating, "Already struggling with low approval ratings, President Yoon found himself in further trouble after derogatory remarks about a key ally, the United States, were caught on microphone."

The article also included the protocol controversy during Speaker Pelosi’s visit.

Meanwhile, Kim Eun-hye, the presidential office’s chief spokesperson, rebutted during a local briefing in New York on the 22nd (local time), saying, "There is no reason for the president to mention the U.S. or say Biden in his remarks," and insisted, "It was not 'Biden' but '날리면 (if it is dropped)."

Spokesperson Kim added, "Our country pledged a $100 million contribution reflected in the budget and made a brief speech," and explained, "(President Yoon) conveyed to Minister Park that if the powerful opposition party in Korea, which controls the budget review authority, refuses to fulfill even the minimum responsibility to the international community, the country’s dignity will be at stake." She further noted, "Minister Park responded that he would persuade the opposition party well to pass the budget."