Controversy over the condolences of South Korean President Yun Seok-yeol and First Lady Kim Kun-hee to Queen Elizabeth II

1. Overview

This document deals with the controversy over the condolences of President Yoon Seok- yeol and First Lady Kim Kun -hee to Queen Elizabeth II on September 19, 2022 .

2. Details

On September 8, 2022, he departed for England to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, who died, but controversy arose when the memorial was canceled due to local traffic problems. # # On September 18, local time when President Yun arrived in the UK, the main figures who arrived earlier than President Yoon and his wife and offered condolences were US President Joe Biden and his wife , Emperor Naruhito and his wife, Margrethe II of Denmark, King Ursula von der European Commission President Rayen , Brazilian President Jair Bolsonar , Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina , Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan , and many others. # In particular , French President Emmanuel Macron went to the memorial on foot. # # David Beckham , a world-famous soccer star who is not a national leader, refused to be treated as a VIP and stood in line for 12 hours to pay tribute to the Queen. # In this way, despite the fact that figures from all walks of life arrived early to pay their condolences, President Yun Seok-yeol and his wife did not pay condolences while they went to England to conduct 'condolence diplomacy'.

In response, the presidential office immediately expressed regret and said that it had been provided with sufficient protocol from the royal family, saying that it "helped smooth movement." President Kim Eun- hye , chief of public relations at the presidential office , held a briefing at the press center in London and said, “There are concerns that the reception time after arrival may be tight due to the fact that 2 million mourners have gathered and 250 heads of state have attended, and the airport conditions are not favorable. It's done," he explained the previous day. "Since we landed in a difficult situation to get to the reception of King Charles III , we have placed 4 sidecars on the way to the reception, " said Kim . Meanwhile , US President Joe Biden As for the couple taking a bus to the inside of the venue, unlike the couple traveling in a private vehicle, President Yoon and his wife said, “Perhaps the British side judged that President Biden and the Israeli leaders faced a significant terrorist threat.” The royal couple of the world's royal family, and the heads of more than 250 countries from all over the world, have moved together." He also explained that for the leaders who arrived after 2 to 3 pm on the same day, it was postponed by adjusting the time by the British royal family, and a condolence log would be prepared immediately after attending the funeral. # #

South Korean President Yun Seok-yeol and First Lady Kim Kun-hee

In this regard, Kim Eun-hye, senior public relations chief, said, "It is regrettable that this kind of sadness is being used in domestic politics as unconfirmed words on a sad global day when we have to line up for condolences and mourning." an attempt to do so, and an attempt to cover it up with a plausible lie.” # However, the explanation of Kim Eun-hye, senior public relations officer, is out of the question, and it is not that Korea has been neglected and thus has become controversial. Most reactions are concerned that Britain has been neglected by not paying condolences that could have gone. In addition, in view of the disorganized behavior of the head of state using condolence diplomacy as a pretext for condolences in the national sentiment, the president's office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are ignoring the president's argument . https://youtu.be/5QOLWQ8xB_w

President Yun announced on the morning of September 19th local time as Queen Elizabeth IIShortly after attending the Queen's funeral, he wrote a condolence note with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and others. # And awarded the National Medal to the Korean War veterans. #

This raises the question of whether the reason for not meeting the condolence schedule was simply because of local traffic conditions. Because traffic congestion was already expected, we were able to advance the London arrival schedule. # The British government has already informed the visiting heads of state 7 days before that they will refrain from boarding private planes and that they will not be able to provide protocol vehicles, and not preparing for this is an inexcusable mistake. If you really wanted a protocol, you should have coordinated the schedule with the British royal family in advance, but there are many critics that it was not possible. In fact, it is difficult to avoid the point that the presidential office should have communicated more closely with the British side in advance because they knew that condolences were possible even if they arrived in the afternoon of the same day before departure. As a result, 1 out of 3 planned events was canceled[1] It was also pointed out that he caused controversy by himself by establishing a tight schedule that did not take local circumstances into account. # # # In addition, two days before the airing, there was a report that the departure schedule was changed from 7 am to 9 am, and it was necessary to explain. In the case of a departure at 7 o'clock, which was the previous schedule, it was judged that both condolences and talks were possible, which caused controversy. #

# Not only the condolence schedule, but also the Korea- UK bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Liz Truss was canceled due to the tight schedule in the UK. At a press conference to explain President Yoon Seok-yeol's controversy over the cancellation of condolences, Kim Eun-hye, senior public relations chief, said, "The new British Prime Minister Liz Truss also wanted to hold bilateral talks the day before, but inevitably adjusted the time due to (President Yoon's) arrival time." He said that the bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Liz Truss was canceled due to traffic congestion and President Yun Seok-yeol's tight schedule. Prime Minister Liz Truss replaced former Prime Minister Boris Johnson , who resigned in July , and began his tenure as prime minister on September 6. Therefore, the Korea-UK bilateral meeting could have a symbolic meaning as it was an important meeting with the newly started British Prime Minister.

3. Controversy over spelling mistakes and English grammar in mourning tweets

On September 9, when President Yun Seok-yeol wrote a condolence message on the death of Queen Elizabeth II on the official Twitter, "Elizabeth" was mistaken for "Elisabeth" , causing controversy over diplomatic disrespect. Shortly after the tweet was posted, British freelance journalist Rafael Rashid pointed out this in a reply and argued that both 'deed' and 'deeds' in the sentence should be revised.[2]

In an interview with KBS Radio on September 12, Rep. Ko Min-jung criticized "It is a disgrace to the dignity of Korea" and said, "It is not another typo" and "Korea The national dignity of the Republic of Korea is not created in an instant, but it collapses in an instant, and it does not only paint the face of President Yoon, but also the national dignity of the Republic of Korea.” #
[Chosun Ilbo] President 尹 mourning the death of Elizabeth II A typo in the tweet “Elisabeth”
[Edaily] The president prefers English... Queen's tribute message 'Ogi'
尹, Elizabeth 's' typo... Ko Min- jung, "The national dignity of the Republic of Korea" I
[The Hankook Ilbo] Ko Min-jung "The President's Office, a typo in the message commemorating the British Queen..."
[Seoul Shimbun] Ko Min-jung "Elizabeth's" typo... It will ruin the dignity of the Republic of Korea.”

4. Kim Gun-hee's veil controversy

There was a controversy that the veil worn by Kim Gun-hee was not appropriate for the case, but the claim that only widows wear black veils is far from the truth. Female attendees who actually came to the funeral in veils[3] Lawyer Noh Young-hee said about Kim's funeral fashion, "It seems that she changed black mourning clothes three times, including a fishnet hat." Fashion shows are disrespectful.” # #

Kim Gun-hee's condolences 'veil hat' controversy... Criticism and ridicule continued, but there are cases
'Diplomatic disrespect' vs 'Nice rant'

5. Reaction

5.1. domestic

5.1.1. Prime Minister

Prime Minister Han Deok -soo criticized Rep. Min Hong-cheol in a question to the government on 'Diplomacy and Security' at the National Assembly on September 20, saying, "In any case, it is diplomatic incompetence that we were unable to adjust the schedule because we did not understand the situation in advance, and we have to acknowledge the incompetence of the president." "Everything was coordinated with the British royal family," he explained, adding that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, King Albert II of Monaco, and Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen also completed their condolences in the same way as President Yun. did. Regarding the criticism of '

condolence diplomacy without condolences ,' he said, "A funeral like that at a cathedral is a real funeral, and it should be regarded as a national funeral . " [Jungang Ilbo] Prime Minister Han,
in the controversy over 'cancellation of condolences', "A funeral at a cathedral is a real funeral" Condolence diplomacy' criticism Prime Minister Han "The funeral at the cathedral is real"

5.1.2. people's power

Lee Jae- oh , a standing adviser to the People's Power , criticized the situation intensely despite being a member of the ruling party. Appearing on MBC News Gaiden on September 20, 2022, he was informed by the British authorities that it would be difficult to pay condolences for heads of state arriving after 2 or 3 pm on the same day . pointed out that this is an unacceptable excuse. Standing advisor Lee emphasized, "If the presidential office is inexperienced in administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the embassy staff who are adept in the field should have prevented the situation, but no one was able to prevent this situation." It's something that shouldn't be violated, but even after an explanation, he says that he makes an explanation that doesn't make sense.[4] was heavily criticized.

5.1.3. Democratic Party

The Democratic Party of Korea went to pay condolences, but criticized it as a diplomatic disaster that failed to pay condolences. Chief Spokesperson Ho-Young Ahn said, "If the mourning was to be canceled, why did the President and wife Yun go to the UK? Why is it possible for the leaders of other countries to do so, why can't only the President of the Republic of Korea do it?" #

Noo "President 尹 ate Yukgaejang and saw feet"... Controversy over 'cancellation of condolences'

Kim Seong-hwan, chairman of the Democratic Party's policy committee, said, "People are wondering why only President Yun was unable to pay condolences to the United States, Canada, Britain, China, as well as Brazil and Ukraine." French President Emmanuel Macron also paid tribute to him on foot, wearing sneakers," he said. He continued, "From the day of his death, seeing the government misspelling the queen's name and omitting condolences, people have wondered why President Yun went to England. Please prove that I am not a Hogu.” #

In a radio interview, former Blue House protocol secretary Tak Hyeon -min said, “Since condolences should be central, we should have departed early rather than making excuses for the local traffic situation. Our government has committed disrespect,” he criticized .

5.2. Overseas

5.2.1. UK

When Kim Eun-hye, senior public relations chief, was briefed saying, 'Attempts to denigrate us as if we were neglected (British),' British Ambassador to Korea Colin Crooks appeared in SBS 's news briefing on the 20th and said, "Meeting the new king and attending the director's office. I think it was condolences,” he said. From 1 hour 51 minutes 46 seconds

"Today's visit can be called a 'condolence'. In particular, he and the king met in person, and the head of the department attended. I think that is a condolence." ("Before, there are many people who think that visiting Westminster Abbey where the body of the Queen is enshrined and worshiping there
with British citizens is also mourning.
, can be called an event."
British Ambassador to Korea Colin Crooks at a news briefing by Youngjin Joo on SBS on September 20, 2022 . ( source )

6. Related News

'Controversy over neglect' over the cancellation of President Yoon's condolences... "The time adjustment of the royal family, and a ceremonial vehicle were also provided" [KBS 9 o'clock news]

The road was blocked and condolences failed... The date of controversy over neglect of diplomacy "The royal family readjusted" [SBS 8 News]

Macron also walked... Cancellation of condolences due to 'traffic'? "If that's the case, why did you go to the UK?" [JTBC News, 1 News]

Jae-oh Lee "The situation where no one hears about 'cancellation of condolences' is incomprehensible" [MBC News Gaiden]

7. Others

BuzzFeed News, an American newspaper, published top-class photos of the foreigner attending the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, and used photos of the couple when they were together, except for Korea's Yoon Seok-yeol and his wife. #

On September 15th, after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Master Cheon Gong, who is controversial about the relationship between Seok-Yeol Yoon and the Master of Heaven, posted on his YouTube 'When the dead die, only those who are necessary go. Because it is connected to the fourth dimension, it can be buried by people. After going to the condolences, I can say it's strange.' #

First Lady Kun-hee Kim shakes hands with Charles III.[5]

[1] One of the schedules, the awarding of national medals to veterans, was held after the funeral. As a result, this was postponed, not canceled.[2] Deed means 'action', and when used with good, it means 'beneficence'. Since it is a countable noun that distinguishes the singular and the plural, it is argued that when expressed in the singular, it can give a nuance that Elizabeth II's good deeds are only one.[3] Various figures, including Jordan's Queen Rania al-Aptula, Israeli President Mihal Herzog, and French President Brigitte Macron's first lady, wore veils. #[4] In the process, he even wrote expressions such as 'makes me cringe' and 'works dumbfounded' towards the staff of the presidential office.

[5] In some communities, photos comparing the expression of the coronation pen handed out have been uploaded. # #

*related articles

* Travel Guide - Singapore's exotic streets

* Travel Guide - Mystical Sky Island, Ba Na Hills

* Causes and effective treatment of androgenetic alopecia in women

* Norwood Hamilton's Classification of Hair Loss Stages

* All about Korean TV variety show - 1 Night 2 Days!

* Everything about the World No. 1 Tekken player Knee (Bae Jaemin)

* All information about Oh Yeong-su (Oil man? Oil Nam in Squid Game)