Corona Trump, Yacht Husband Kang Kyung-hwa... President Moon's Deepening Dilemma

Setback in Restarting the Korean Peninsula Peace Process
Government's COVID-19 Prevention Credibility Tarnished

President Moon Jae-in is presiding over a senior secretaries and aides meeting at the Blue House on the 28th of last month.

President Moon Jae-in's plan for second-half governance, which aimed to simultaneously tackle both quarantine and economic challenges around the Chuseok holiday and to fully restart the Korean Peninsula peace process, is facing a 'rough road' due to domestic and international setbacks.

First, the visit to South Korea by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, which was expected to open the door to thawing relations on the Korean Peninsula, was abruptly postponed after President Donald Trump tested positive for COVID-19. President Moon reignited the peace process signal by reiterating the 'Declaration of the End of War' in his speech at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on the 23rd of last month.

Pompeo’s visit, scheduled after the Chuseok holiday, was seen as a turning point for the Korean Peninsula situation in this context. The possibility of a major event dubbed the 'October Surprise' before the U.S. presidential election was also stirring diplomatic circles and boosting the atmosphere. However, these expectations were effectively dashed by President Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis. Pompeo postponed his visit, and U.S. media have even mentioned a paralysis of the White House administration.

North Korea’s policy of non-response is equally burdensome. After the shooting of a South Korean official, the Blue House publicly disclosed an unusual apology from North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un and the exchange of letters between the two Koreas. The Blue House proposed reopening military communications for a joint investigation. However, North Korea has not responded at all and completely omitted related reports even on the 13th anniversary of the October 4 Joint Declaration. This appears to be due to concerns that a joint investigation could change the situation. The North may feel burdened by the possibility of having to apologize further after Kim’s initial apology.

The domestic political situation is also one of the factors deepening President Moon’s worries. The government has urged citizens to refrain from going out during the holiday period to cooperate with quarantine efforts. The plan was to ignite economic revitalization based on quarantine success, but the controversy over Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha’s husband’s yacht purchase trip has spread, leaving the Blue House visibly embarrassed.

Kang’s husband, Professor Emeritus Lee Il-byung of Yonsei University, boarded a flight to the U.S. on the 3rd with the purpose of purchasing a yacht. Since issuing a special travel advisory in March, the government has extended the period several times. The government appealed to the entire nation to refrain from returning home during the Chuseok holiday and even blocked vehicle rallies on National Foundation Day (Gaecheonjeol) citing quarantine reasons. In this context, the controversy over Kang’s husband’s overseas trip is expected to deal a fatal blow to the government’s quarantine credibility.

President Moon is scheduled to preside over a senior secretaries’ meeting at the Blue House this afternoon, drawing attention to what messages he will deliver regarding the Korean Peninsula issue and COVID-19 quarantine. Since he personally urged cooperation on quarantine just before the Chuseok holiday, it is expected that he will express gratitude to the public. However, the consensus is that he is unlikely to mention the Korean Peninsula peace process.

Meanwhile, criticism over Professor Lee’s trip to the U.S. has also come from within the ruling party. The leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea has repeatedly expressed regret.

Party leader Lee Nak-yeon said on the 4th after a field meeting on COVID-19 care vulnerability, "From the public’s perspective, I think it was inappropriate." Floor leader Kim Tae-nyeon also pointed out at a press briefing that day, "Since it was a high-ranking official, and the family of the Foreign Minister who issued travel restraint recommendations, it is inappropriate," adding, "We view it as an inappropriate act." Spokesperson Shin Young-dae also expressed deep regret in a statement that afternoon, saying, "As the spouse of the Foreign Minister, this was an inappropriate conduct," and "It is clearly an inappropriate act that does not meet the public’s standards."

However, there is also a view that expanding the issue of the Foreign Minister’s spouse into a political controversy is undesirable. Representative Park Beom-gye said on the 5th on CBS Radio’s 'Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show,' criticizing Professor Lee, "Who exactly is he to claim his rights while not following the government’s recommendations?" Yet he emphasized, "I firmly oppose the trend of holding Minister Kang responsible."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.