[New York Diary] President Yoon's US Visit Controversy as Seen Locally

Controversy Over President Yoon's Remarks at the UN General Assembly
Embarrassment Spreads as Interpretation of "How Embarrassing Is This" Targets South Korea
Comparisons Drawn with President Biden's Verbal Slips, but Apologies Make the Difference
The Importance of the President's Language and Accountability in Leadership

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] The vulgar language used by the president during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA, has been causing a stir for several days. Articles reporting that South Korea's President Yoon Seok-yeol disparaged an allied country were widely published locally, making the target of the president's phrase "How embarrassing is this" appear to be South Korea itself.

After revealing his nationality and occupation, the doorman who always mentioned the day's major news whenever we met asked me, "Are you going to the UN? You must be busy. But why did the Korean president say such a thing?" I could not hide my embarrassment. Even though he immediately added, "We (Americans) also curse," it did not ease the situation.

Following the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, the UN General Assembly held in New York in September was an important diplomatic timing in many ways. Early in his term, just the fact that world leaders gather in one place for multilateral diplomacy was fortunate for President Yoon. It was a golden opportunity to imprint messages on the international community and strengthen relations with major countries. Moreover, there were many urgent issues requiring top-down negotiations, such as the US Inflation Reduction Act excluding Korean electric vehicles from support, and the Korea-US currency swap talks amid a strong dollar.

Even if the cancellation of condolences for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral can be seen as a gesture of respect from a head of state, the 48-second conversation held here in New York, followed by the controversy over vulgar and disparaging remarks, is disheartening in many respects.

I listened to the statement, which became a nationwide hearing test, dozens of times. Was it "Biden-i" or "nallimyeon"?

If the statement "If these ×× in the National Assembly do not approve, 'Biden-i' will be embarrassed" is, as the presidential office explained, "If these ×× in the National Assembly do not approve and 'nallimyeon' how embarrassing would it be," is this statement not problematic? If "these ××" refers not to the US Congress but to our National Assembly, is this appropriate language for the president of a democratic country?

Americans I spoke with about this controversy comforted me by citing examples of President Biden's verbal slips. As is well known, President Biden is known for his colorful speech and even nicknamed the "gaffe machine." In January, he called a Fox News White House correspondent a "stupid XX" without realizing the microphone was on, and after the Mirror summit, he publicly expressed anger at a CNN reporter, calling them "damn." However, I want to emphasize that President Biden apologized immediately after both incidents.

Anyone can make a verbal mistake. What matters next is important. President Yoon should directly explain and apologize to the embarrassed citizens and, according to the presidential office's explanation, the National Assembly members who became the "these ××." He must abandon unconsidered remarks and unrefined messages and deeply recognize the weight of "the president's language." Leadership can never stand if the president's language is light.