Yoo Seung-min: "Why Doesn't President Yoon Apologize for His Slip of the Tongue and Instead Fuels Controversy?"

Criticism of Response to Slang and Exclusion from Boarding MBC Exclusive Aircraft Controversy

Former Assemblyman Yoo Seung-min / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Noh Kyung-jo] Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min on the 19th commented on the controversy over the exclusion of MBC reporters from boarding the presidential aircraft, saying to President Yoon Seok-yeol, "A slip of the tongue could have been cleanly apologized for and moved on. It's regrettable why the controversy keeps escalating."

Former lawmaker Yoo said on Facebook that day, "Even if I concede a hundred times that it was such a difficult matter, it would have been better to remain silent," expressing his view.

This was a criticism of the response to the controversy over the use of vulgar language during President Yoon's September overseas trip and the subsequent controversy over excluding MBC reporters from boarding the presidential aircraft.

President Yoon said during a Q&A on his way to work the previous day that the exclusion of MBC reporters from the presidential aircraft was "because they showed a very malicious behavior trying to sow discord in the alliance, a core pillar of our national security, with fake news that is not based on facts." After President Yoon's remarks, a heated exchange occurred between an MBC reporter and Lee Ki-jung, the Secretary for Public Relations Planning.

Former lawmaker Yoo questioned, "If, as the president said, MBC's report was truly 'malicious fake news with fabricated evidence' and 'an act that harmed national security and the safety of the people and violated the constitution,' then wouldn't the exclusion from boarding the presidential aircraft be too light a punishment for such a serious crime?" He asked, "Isn't MBC's report a violation of the National Security Act?"

He continued, "If it is a serious crime, shouldn't the police and prosecutors immediately conduct a search and seizure of MBC and investigate and prosecute the suspects to bring them before the court?" He added, "More than 140 media outlets that broadcasted with subtitles like 'This XX, Biden, so embarrassing' committed the 'same serious crime,' so shouldn't they receive the same punishment?"

However, he said, "I hope the president calmly considers whether this matter really warrants such measures and whether continuing to escalate the controversy is appropriate." He criticized, "While going on a trip for national interest, how was the exclusion of MBC from boarding reported by foreign media? Did that help the national interest and image of the Republic of Korea?"

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