Jin Park Directly Refutes Opposition's 'Diplomatic Disaster and Profanity' Controversy

Detailed Explanation Responding to Opposition Criticism
Refusal to Resign Despite Demands

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] Foreign Minister Park Jin has expressed his refusal to resign and directly rebutted the opposition party's criticism of a diplomatic fiasco and controversy over vulgar language.

Minister Park appears to have taken a tough stance, stating that he can no longer back down in response to the opposition party, the Democratic Party of Korea, recently labeling President Yoon Suk-yeol's overseas trips as a diplomatic fiasco and pressuring the ruling People Power Party and the government.

Foreign Minister Park Jin is visiting the press room at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 30th to express his position on the passage of the motion for his dismissal by the National Assembly. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

On the morning of the same day at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Seoul, Minister Park met with reporters covering the ministry and refuted the opposition's attacks point by point.

Regarding the criticism that President Yoon Suk-yeol's recent visits to the UK and the US were a diplomatic fiasco, Minister Park said, “The whole world is evaluating the Yoon administration’s foreign policy and global vision, but only our political circles are viewing it from a very partisan perspective.”

He mentioned that President Yoon and the First Lady paid respects at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II of the UK and held meaningful conversations with leaders such as President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan at the UN General Assembly, rhetorically asking, “If this is not successful condolence diplomacy, UN diplomacy, and sales diplomacy, then what is?”

Minister Park also reaffirmed his previous stance on the controversy over President Yoon’s use of vulgar language.

He stated, “We made an announcement at the Global Fund event about contributing to the eradication of global diseases, and I took it to mean that it would be embarrassing if it did not properly pass through the National Assembly.”

Minister Park firmly expressed his refusal regarding the opposition party’s passage of a motion of no confidence. He reiterated his position from the previous day, saying, “Now is not the time for political strife but to think about national interests,” and “In that sense, as the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I intend to do my best in fulfilling my duties.”

Earlier, on the afternoon of the previous day, after the motion of no confidence was passed, Minister Park issued a statement saying, “Diplomacy must never become a victim of political strife under any circumstances,” and “I will do my utmost in fulfilling my duties without wavering.”

Minister Park said, “Personally, I have reflections and feel distressed and upset. However, as the saying goes, the ground hardens after the rain, I will take this as an opportunity for a new start and dedicate all my abilities and passion to diplomacy for the national interest of the Republic of Korea.”

When asked if he would prepare for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ parliamentary audit scheduled for the 4th of next month, he replied, “I will prepare sincerely so that the audit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ work will be conducted well.”

Additionally, regarding whether he received a report related to the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) at the time when US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Korea in early last month, Minister Park said, “I was on an overseas trip at that time, so there was nothing to discuss about that matter.”

The Korean Embassy in the US reportedly sent a report titled “Level 3 Confidential: In-depth Report on the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)” to the Presidential Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Strategy and Finance, and Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy in the early hours of the 4th of last month while Speaker Pelosi was visiting Korea.

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