Hong Joon-pyo Criticizes Yoon's Use of Profanity... "Must Acknowledge Mistake and Take Responsibility"

Criticism of the Ruling Party's Response to Controversy
"Saddened by the Current State of the Nation" Highlighted

Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu, said on the 24th regarding President Yoon Seok-yeol's 'vulgar language controversy,' "Even if belated, he should admit his mistake and manage the situation properly; if it drags on, it will only lose the public's trust."

On the same day, Mayor Hong stated through his Facebook, "When an incident occurs, you must always confront it head-on. If you lie to avoid a difficult moment, one lie begets another, and the issue grows bigger," expressing this view.

This is interpreted as a criticism of the ruling party's response to the vulgar language controversy that occurred during President Yoon's overseas trip.

President Yoon, while leaving the 'Global Fund Financing Pledge Conference' hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden, was heard saying to Foreign Minister Park Jin and others, "If these XX in the National Assembly don't approve it, what will Biden do, feeling embarrassed?"

In response, Kim Eun-hye, Chief Public Relations Officer of the Presidential Office, explained, "Please listen to (President Yoon's controversial remark) once again. It says, 'If the National Assembly doesn't approve and lets it go,' and there is no reason to mention the U.S. here, let alone say 'Biden.'" She also clarified that 'these XX' was aimed at our country's National Assembly, not the U.S. Congress.

Some members of the People Power Party also claimed that they could not hear 'Biden' or 'these XX' in President Yoon's remarks.

Mayor Hong pointed out, "Since he was elected anyway, shouldn't we correct immature points and encourage what he does well to normalize the country?" He added, "Last December, before the presidential election, I said that if Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party became president, the country would collapse, and if Yoon Seok-yeol became president, the country would be in chaos. The current state of the country is regrettable."