Rumors of Yu Eun-hye's Sudden Rise to China's Olympic Team... Blue House Says "No Discussions Have Taken Place"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] It has been reported that Yoon Eun-hye, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, may attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics next month as the head of the South Korean delegation instead of Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum. This consideration takes into account that China sent a deputy prime minister-level official during the Pyeongchang Olympics, but the Blue House has stated that nothing has been decided yet.

A senior Blue House official said on the 24th regarding the dispatch of the Beijing government delegation, "Nothing has been discussed yet."

So far, the Blue House and the government have been deliberating on sending a delegation after President Moon Jae-in decided not to attend the Beijing Winter Olympics. Initially, it was reported that Prime Minister Kim or Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hwang Hee would attend as government representatives according to Olympic event customs, but Deputy Prime Minister Yoon has recently emerged as a candidate, likely considering the rank of the official.

In 2018, China sent Han Zheng, ranked 7th in the power hierarchy and Deputy Prime Minister as well as a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, to the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, and Deputy Prime Minister Liu Yandong to the closing ceremony.

Additionally, amid the growing 'diplomatic boycott' of the Beijing Winter Olympics led by the United States and its allies, there is a possibility that sending Prime Minister Kim, classified as a 'head of state' level, was considered burdensome.

However, as the U.S. and Western democratic countries criticize China’s human rights issues and are boycotting the Olympics, some skeptical views have been raised questioning whether it is necessary to send a deputy prime minister-level official. Professor Kim Hyun-wook of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy pointed out, "There is no need to completely exclude China, but fundamental reflection and review are necessary regarding what stance we should take in U.S.-China relations."

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