Distorting EU Ambassador's Remarks, Kim Eui-gyeom Faces Ruling Party Criticism: "Even Diplomacy Reduced to 'If Not, So What' Attitude"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The ruling party criticized the controversy surrounding Kim Ui-gyeom, the spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, who distorted the remarks of Maria Castillo Fernandez, the EU Ambassador to South Korea, saying, "The Democratic Party's 'say anything and then deny' irresponsible politics is expanding into the realm of diplomacy."

On the morning of the 10th, Seong Il-jong, the Policy Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, said at the emergency committee meeting, "This is precisely a diplomatic disaster."

Earlier, spokesperson Kim made remarks implying that there was a conversation about the Yoon Seok-yeol government's lack of communication channels limiting responses to North Korean provocations, right after a meeting between Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung and Ambassador Fernandez. He later apologized following a protest from the EU Ambassador.

He pointed out, "As the largest opposition party, please consider the national dignity," adding, "It is a diplomatic disaster that South Korea's largest party, which has also been the ruling party, fabricated lies in a confidential meeting briefing to deceive the public, received protests, and had to issue a public apology." This was a counter-criticism of the opposition's labeling of President Yoon Seok-yeol's overseas trip as a 'diplomatic disaster.'

Policy Committee Chairman Seong said, "The diplomatic disaster caused by maliciously editing conversations with foreign ambassadors has damaged the country's political credibility," and added, "We hope the party will be one that considers dignity and national interest, at least in diplomacy."

Emergency Committee member Kim Jong-hyuk questioned, "How would the EU view our country?" and asked, "Is it something that should end with a 'sincere apology' after making statements as if something that never happened actually did?"

Committee member Kim also said, "(Spokesperson Kim) claimed that Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon sang and drank with 30 law firm lawyers at a karaoke bar but still has not provided evidence," and added, "Isn't he a former journalist? Don't embarrass yourself and step down from the spokesperson position."

Assemblyman Jeong Jeom-sik also criticized during the emergency committee's general remarks that day, saying, "It is impossible to predict how far spokesperson Kim's fabrication will go," and added, "(Following the absurd claim that President Yoon Seok-yeol and Minister Han Dong-hoon drank until dawn, the claim that the war on drugs caused the Itaewon disaster, and now the international embarrassment where the EU ambassador had to clarify to the host government.)"

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