Minju Criticizes Yoon's 'Condolence Cancellation' Controversy as a "Diplomatic Disaster" and "Global Sucker" Blast

Kim Seong-hwan "Questioning why he went to the UK... More worries ahead"
Im O-kyung "Repeated diplomatic disasters, hope for results beneficial to national interest"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] The Democratic Party of Korea continued its relentless offensive on the 20th, calling President Yoon Seok-yeol's failure to pay respects to Queen Elizabeth II in the UK a "diplomatic disaster." They strongly criticized the situation, repeatedly mentioning the damage domestic companies have suffered due to the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), emphasizing that Korea must not become a "global pushover" on the international stage.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On this day, Kim Seong-hwan, the Policy Committee Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, said at a party strategy meeting held at the National Assembly, "The public wonders why President Yoon was the only one unable to pay respects when delegations from the US, Canada, Japan, China, as well as Brazil and Ukraine, all paid respects under traffic control conditions," adding, "If he was unaware of the traffic control, it is incompetence; if he knew but failed to prepare countermeasures, it is an even greater diplomatic failure and disaster."

Chairman Kim pointed out, "Traffic control in the area was announced in advance. Even French President Macron wore sneakers to pay respects," and criticized, "From the day of Queen Elizabeth’s passing, the Yoon Seok-yeol administration made a typo in the Queen’s name and omitted paying respects, causing the public to question why President Yoon even went to the UK."

He continued, "The future is even more worrisome," adding, "Especially at the upcoming Korea-US summit, the issue of discrimination against Korean electric vehicles must be resolved, but there are concerns that it will still be a fruitless meeting. The Korea-Japan summit itself remains uncertain. The public now asks that the Korean president conduct dignified diplomacy from the perspective of national interest and prove that Korea is not a 'global pushover.'"

Spokesperson Lim Oh-kyung also issued a statement, pointing out, "A disaster occurred where the president’s condolence diplomacy lacked the actual act of paying respects, leading to even a 'diplomatic neglect theory.'"

He criticized, "However, the explanation from the presidential office is shocking. Not only did they cite 'traffic conditions' as the reason for canceling the condolence visit, but they also absurdly stated that 'it is regrettable that even grief is being used for domestic politics.'"

Spokesperson Lim said, "Repeated diplomatic disasters only confirm the Yoon administration’s complacency and rudeness in diplomacy," adding, "This is summit diplomacy representing the Republic of Korea, yet must the public watch the president like a child left at the water’s edge? We hope he returns with results that benefit national interest and dignity."

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