Yoon's diplomacy tarnished by inappropriate remarks
President Yoon Suk-yeol has come under criticism for his clumsy diplomatic activities on the global stage. For starters, Yoon met U.S. President Joe Biden in New York, Wednesday. Yet it was far from a summit meeting ― just a mere 48-second encounter at a fundraising event. Also, Yoon managed to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida the same day, but the Japanese side downplayed the meeting as an "informal" talk.
Yoon took on a low profile as he went to meet Kishida at a venue where the Japanese prime minister was attending another event, with only Japanese reporters present. Yoon also triggered criticism for apparently referring to the U.S. Congress with a profanity just after his very brief conversation with Biden, raising skepticism over his qualifications as a nation's leader.
These gaffes generated criticism that the presidential office had inappropriately announced there would be two crucial summits while Yoon was in New York. Deputy National Security Advisor Kim Tae-hyo last week said that Yoon's summit with Biden would be brief ― 30 minutes or so. He also said there would a Seoul-Tokyo summit.
The aborted summit between Yoon and Biden is disappointing. Yoon was supposed to raise critical issues pertinent to the controversial Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and much-needed currency swap amid the steady depreciation of the Korean won against the U.S. dollar. Anxiety about the exchange rate has grown further, as the U.S. Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 75 basis points on Wednesday.
Concerns among Korean companies have been growing over the IRA, designed to offer a tax credit to electric vehicle buyers if 40 percent of the critical minerals in their batteries are mined or processed from the U.S. or countries with free trade agreements with the U.S., or recycled in North America, and at least 50 percent of their battery components are manufactured or assembled in North America.
Usually, governments coordinate the schedule, format and agenda before announcing a bilateral summit. Unprecedentedly though, what seemed to have been a prearranged Korea-U.S. summit was cancelled. The U.S. said that Biden's schedule in New York had been reduced due to Queen Elizabeth II's funeral and other domestic obligations. But further explanation about the failed summit is still needed from the Korean side.
Fresh from the encounter with Biden, Yoon made a profane statement in front of the camera, creating a stir for having possibly insulted the U.S. Congress. The presidential office at first expressed regret, describing it as words Yoon said in private. But later, it caused scornful reactions by claiming Yoon had been referring to Korea's National Assembly, not the U.S. Congress.
This does not make sense at all. Even if it's true, one still wonders whether the president should be entitled to utter profane remarks about Korea's National Assembly. As his statement already went viral, Yoon should candidly admit his mistake and apologize to the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the people. He should learn a lesson from the recent case to mind his words more closely in the future.
The Yoon-Kishida meeting drew attention since the presidential office announced the two leaders would be pleased to meet each other. It was also significant, as it marked the first meeting of the leaders of the two countries in 33 months. Yet, the Japanese side seemed to be on defensive from the beginning. The meeting managed to take place with Yoon visiting Kishida in person for the 30-minute talk, yet without even hoisting their national flags.
President Yoon Suk-yeol has come under criticism for his clumsy diplomatic activities on the global stage. For starters, Yoon met U.S. President Joe Biden in New York, Wednesday. Yet it was far from a summit meeting ― just a mere 48-second encounter at a fundraising event. Also, Yoon managed to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida the same day, but the Japanese side downplayed the meeting as an "informal" talk.
Yoon took on a low profile as he went to meet Kishida at a venue where the Japanese prime minister was attending another event, with only Japanese reporters present. Yoon also triggered criticism for apparently referring to the U.S. Congress with a profanity just after his very brief conversation with Biden, raising skepticism over his qualifications as a nation's leader.
These gaffes generated criticism that the presidential office had inappropriately announced there would be two crucial summits while Yoon was in New York. Deputy National Security Advisor Kim Tae-hyo last week said that Yoon's summit with Biden would be brief ― 30 minutes or so. He also said there would a Seoul-Tokyo summit.
The aborted summit between Yoon and Biden is disappointing. Yoon was supposed to raise critical issues pertinent to the controversial Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and much-needed currency swap amid the steady depreciation of the Korean won against the U.S. dollar. Anxiety about the exchange rate has grown further, as the U.S. Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 75 basis points on Wednesday.
Concerns among Korean companies have been growing over the IRA, designed to offer a tax credit to electric vehicle buyers if 40 percent of the critical minerals in their batteries are mined or processed from the U.S. or countries with free trade agreements with the U.S., or recycled in North America, and at least 50 percent of their battery components are manufactured or assembled in North America.
Usually, governments coordinate the schedule, format and agenda before announcing a bilateral summit. Unprecedentedly though, what seemed to have been a prearranged Korea-U.S. summit was cancelled. The U.S. said that Biden's schedule in New York had been reduced due to Queen Elizabeth II's funeral and other domestic obligations. But further explanation about the failed summit is still needed from the Korean side.
Fresh from the encounter with Biden, Yoon made a profane statement in front of the camera, creating a stir for having possibly insulted the U.S. Congress. The presidential office at first expressed regret, describing it as words Yoon said in private. But later, it caused scornful reactions by claiming Yoon had been referring to Korea's National Assembly, not the U.S. Congress.
This does not make sense at all. Even if it's true, one still wonders whether the president should be entitled to utter profane remarks about Korea's National Assembly. As his statement already went viral, Yoon should candidly admit his mistake and apologize to the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the people. He should learn a lesson from the recent case to mind his words more closely in the future.
The Yoon-Kishida meeting drew attention since the presidential office announced the two leaders would be pleased to meet each other. It was also significant, as it marked the first meeting of the leaders of the two countries in 33 months. Yet, the Japanese side seemed to be on defensive from the beginning. The meeting managed to take place with Yoon visiting Kishida in person for the 30-minute talk, yet without even hoisting their national flags.
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