President Yoon Seok-yeol greets former President Moon Jae-in at an inauguration ceremony held in the front yard of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 10th. provided by the presidential office
Even after the inauguration of the Yun Seok-yeol government, the battle for the spirit with the Moon Jae-in government has continued.
President Yoon’s side did not hide his discomfort over the cancellation of the Seoul meeting between former President Moon Jae-in and US President Joe Biden. The surprise encounter between the two presidents also failed as President Yoon decided not to attend the memorial service for former President Roh Moo-hyun to be held on the 24th.
“Wen-Biden meeting?… Diplomatically, there are not many such cases.”
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said at a press briefing on the 18th (local time) that “[President Biden]has no plans to meet with former President Moon at this time.” Regarding the observation that former President Moon could serve as a special envoy to North Korea, he said, “I have never heard of any such discussion.” There were even specific rumors circulating that “on the 22nd, I can meet former President Moon at the hotel where President Biden is staying”, but it seems to have never happened.
The president’s office reacted somewhat coldly to the mention of the possibility of a meeting between former President Moon and President Biden itself. At a briefing on the 18th, first deputy director of the National Security Office Kim Tae-hyo said, “The issue of special envoy for humanitarian assistance to North Korea is not being discussed at all.” “We don’t know anything at all,” he said. Another official from the presidential office said, “If President Yoon went to the United States and met former President Donald Trump before meeting Biden, how would President Biden feel?
“It’s right after the Korea-US summit”… 尹, I don’t go to Bonghama village
President Yoon will not attend a memorial service for the 13th anniversary of former President Roh to be held in Bonghama Village, Gimhae-si, Gyeongsangnam-do on the 23rd. President Lee Jin-bok, chief of political affairs, is expected to attend instead. The reason is that it is difficult because of the schedule because it is right after President Biden’s visit to South Korea (20-22nd). Former President Roh’s spouse, Kwon Yang-sook, also did not attend the inauguration ceremony of President Yoon.
Even with the fact that former President Moon Jae-in pointed out on Facebook on the 15th that “Ban Ji-sung is breaking the peace and freedom of Sunday in a small rural village,” targeting members of conservative groups gathering in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do, there are also interpretations that it is an extension of the conflict between the old and the new. did. In his inaugural address, President Yoon brought up the criticism of ‘anti-intellectualism’ and indirectly exposed his uncomfortable feelings toward him.
Son Young-ha reporter frozen@hankookilbo.com
Kim Ji-hyun reporter hyun1620@hankookilbo.com
