People Power Party: "Criticizing Opposition's Condolence Diplomacy Harms National Interest"

Park Hyung-su "Met with Sangju to offer condolences, attended the funeral, and even wrote in the condolence book... If not condolence, then what?"
Jung Jin-seok "Democratic Party, spitting while lying down"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] On the 20th, the People Power Party urged the Democratic Party, which continues its offensive calling President Yoon Seok-yeol's condolence visit to Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom a "diplomatic fiasco," to "stop distorting facts and belittling the matter."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the same day, Park Hyung-soo, the floor spokesperson, issued a statement saying, "The Democratic Party's Policy Committee Chair criticized President Yoon, saying, 'The United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Brazil, and Ukraine all paid their respects, so I wonder why only President Yoon Seok-yeol could not,' and former protocol secretary Tak Hyun-min made an inappropriate analogy, saying the president 'ate yukgaejang and then went to the funeral,'" adding these remarks.

Park said, "The Democratic Party's attempt to portray President Yoon as being snubbed is not only a distortion of facts but also a diplomatic discourtesy to the UK government, which warmly welcomed the president," and added, "Contrary to the Democratic Party's claims, President Yoon Seok-yeol received a warm welcome from the UK government."

He explained, "The condolence schedule for Queen Elizabeth II was not attended only by President Yoon but by over 2,000 people from around the world, including about 500 national leaders at the state level," and continued, "Nevertheless, the UK provided the president with a royal vehicle, and unusually, even assigned security vehicles during his movement."

He further stated, "The UK government informed that due to traffic conditions on the day, leaders arriving after 2-3 p.m. were guided to pay their respects the following day. Therefore, the EU Commission President, the Greek President, the Austrian President, the Egyptian Prime Minister, the Monaco King, and others who arrived after 2-3 p.m. local time also had their condolence book signing delayed, just like President Yoon," and criticized, "The Democratic Party should verify facts properly before criticizing."

He also rebutted, "The Democratic Party claims that President Yoon skipped the condolence visit, but if he met the bereaved family to offer condolences, attended the funeral, and even signed the condolence book, then what else would that be if not a condolence visit?"

On the same day, Jeong Jin-seok, the Emergency Response Committee Chair, met with reporters at the National Assembly and, when asked about the Democratic Party's criticism of President Yoon's cancellation of the condolence visit as a diplomatic fiasco, said, "To disparage and belittle a leader who is striving hard to elevate the status and dignity of the Republic of Korea on the diplomatic stage in such a way is like spitting while lying down," calling it a "malicious interpretation."

He added, "The president is truly doing his best for the country by pushing forward with a rigorous schedule of summit diplomacy. Isn't condolence also diplomacy?" and said, "He is actively engaging in diplomatic activities with leaders from various countries at the UN General Assembly held in New York, so it is appropriate to send encouragement and support."

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