Changed Presidential Office Stance... 'Statement Controversy' Escalating into a Truth Game

Presidential Office: "Not Pointing at Opposition" "Clearly Not Biden"
'Collusion with Press' vs 'Media Intimidation' Ruling and Opposition Parties Continue Dispute Over Remarks Controversy

President Yoon Suk-yeol is arriving at the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul on the morning of the 26th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] The presidential office has changed its explanation regarding the 'remarks controversy' that arose during President Yoon Seok-yeol's visit to New York, USA. Initially, the controversial term '이××' in President Yoon's remarks was explained as referring to the 'opposition party,' but the stance has shifted to saying that the 'facts are uncertain.' The ruling party is also claiming that the remarks were never made in the first place. President Yoon demanded a 'truth investigation' into the initial report without issuing an apology or expression of regret. The opposition strongly opposed this, calling it 'media suppression.'

In political circles, many expected that on the 26th, when President Yoon returned to work after his overseas trip, there would be an explanation or an apology or expression of regret regarding the controversy. However, President Yoon remained silent about his remarks. Upon arriving at the Yongsan presidential office that day, he said, "The alliance being tarnished by inaccurate reports endangers the people," and added, "I believe the truth of the controversy must be clearly revealed." The report that his remarks at the New York event were, "If these 이×× in the National Assembly don't approve, Biden will be embarrassed," was described as a 'false report.'

The presidential office also issued a different stance from the initial one. Lee Jae-myung, deputy spokesperson of the presidential office, said in a briefing, "The term '이××' does not point to the opposition party. There will be an opportunity for the opposition to clarify," and added, "We will not disclose our position on '이××'." On the 22nd, Kim Eun-hye, chief of public relations, had explained in a local briefing in New York that President Yoon was not referring to U.S. President Joe Biden or the U.S. Congress, but that the remarks were directed at our opposition party.

The presidential office emphasized that MBC's broadcast, which included the subtitle 'Biden' without verifying the facts, was 'denigrating an allied country.' In an interview on the 27th with MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus,' Deputy Spokesperson Lee said, "We consulted several experts to verify the facts," and pointed out, "A voice analysis expert could not identify the specific word, but some media specified it, creating a sentence with a nuance that damages the alliance and seems to mock it, which then rapidly spread through foreign media."

Deputy Spokesperson Lee said that the expression in President Yoon's remarks "cannot be 100% confirmed," but emphasized, "It is clear that it was not 'Biden.'" He argued, "The president would never use the term 'National Assembly' when addressing the U.S., nor would he use the term 'Biden.'" When asked about the truth of the '이××' expression, he avoided a direct answer, saying, "The essence is not the profanity controversy but the denigration of an allied country," and added, "We must first confirm the intent and context of President Yoon's remarks, then have the public understand the process, and if there are other issues, we can invite the opposition leadership for an explanation."

The confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties is intensifying. The People Power Party suspects the circumstances of the report on the remarks controversy and raised suspicions of collusion between MBC and the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party opposed this as 'media intimidation' and announced plans to propose a motion to dismiss Foreign Minister Park Jin.

The presidential office is reportedly not planning direct legal action against MBC. According to a Yonhap News report on the 27th, a presidential office official said in a phone call, "We have thoroughly reviewed the possibility of litigation internally," and concluded, "Direct prosecution or filing a lawsuit is unnecessary." However, it is reported that they believe a truth investigation is necessary regarding how the video of President Yoon's remarks spread on social media before the embargo was lifted.