Mass Walkout of Member States at IMFC Russia Remarks... Deputy Prime Minister Hong Nam-gi Also Joins Boycott

70% of Meeting Attendees Temporarily Leave, Including 12 of 18 Countries...Chairpersons Remain Seated

[Asia Economy Washington (USA) = Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] At the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) meeting held in Washington DC, USA, many member countries, including South Korea, protested Russia's invasion of Ukraine by walking out en masse before Russia's remarks.

According to the government on the 21st (local time), at the IMFC meeting held that morning, as soon as Russia's remarks began, many finance ministers and heads of international organizations attending the meeting walked out, then returned immediately after Russia's remarks ended. Hong Nam-ki, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, who attended as South Korea's representative, also participated in the temporary walkout.

The meeting was attended by finance ministers from 18 countries and heads of 6 international organizations. Among them, 12 finance ministers including Deputy Prime Minister Hong and 4 heads of international organizations temporarily walked out during Russia's remarks. Two-thirds of the attendees at the meeting staged a 'boycott' as a protest against the invasion of Ukraine. Countries that remained seated included Spain, Indonesia, India, Switzerland, and Brazil. Many of the countries that did not participate in the walkout are chairs of the IMFC and the G20.

The joint statement (communique) originally prepared for the day failed to be adopted due to opposition from one country and was adopted as a chair's statement instead.

Meanwhile, at the G20 finance ministers' meeting held the previous day, when it was Russia's turn to speak, finance ministers from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union (EU) temporarily left the meeting room. Most countries, including G7 members Japan, Germany, Italy, and South Korea, remained in the meeting room. Of the approximately 60 finance ministers attending the G20 meeting, four left the meeting room.

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