Yoon Suk-yeol, a conservative already struggling with low approval ratings just months after taking office, was criticized from across South Korea’s political spectrum after he failed to attend the Queen’s outing despite traveling to London. On Wednesday, he was caught cursing after a conversation with Joe Biden on the sidelines of the UN general assembly that reportedly lasted less than a minute. Speaking as he left an event in New York, Yoon was caught on a “hot” microphone telling aides: “How can Biden not lose face if these motherfuckers don’t pass it in Congress?” – apparently in connection with Biden’s push to increase the US contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which would require congressional approval. South Korean President Caught Swearing Into Hot Mic After Chat With Joe Biden – Video The video quickly went viral in South Korea, with a YouTube video attracting more than 5 million views, while the Korean expletive he allegedly uttered trended on Twitter. Opposition lawmakers were quick to accuse him of insulting the US, a key ally with about 28,000 troops stationed in South Korea, many of them along the border with nuclear-armed North Korea. Park Hong-keun, of the opposition Democratic Party, which controls the national assembly, said Yoon’s outburst was a “slanderous diplomatic accident that seriously tarnished national dignity.” Yoon’s press secretary, Kim Eun-hye, claimed the South Korean president was referring to his country’s national assembly, which will also vote on a Global Fund pledge. Yun “had no reason to talk about the US or utter the word ‘Maiden,’” Kim said, arguing that Yun had in fact used a word that sounded similar to the US president’s name. Social media users were not convinced. “It’s completely embarrassing and embarrassing for our children that our president’s office has come up with such an excuse,” wrote one YouTube commenter. “I’ve heard it 10 times now. It’s definitely ‘Maiden,’” said another. Yun’s comments drew criticism from members of his own People Power party, whose leader called the outbreak “very regrettable”. Officials had hoped Yun would use his appearance at the UN general assembly to push his vision for South Korea, including his plans to confront North Korea’s ballistic missile and nuclear missile tests. Democrat MPs accused him of “degrading national prestige” after he failed to notice the Queen lying in state on his first day in London on Sunday. His office blamed heavy traffic for his absence, although other foreign guests, including French President Emmanuel Macron, chose to walk to Westminster Hall, where the Queen was in state. Critics said Yun, who had previously been accused of acting on the advice of a shaman, had proved diplomatically inept after failing to hold meaningful talks with Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Yun and Biden had planned informal talks in New York, but ended up having a 48-second conversation at the Global Fund. Yun’s office said the meeting was a “plan B” due to changes in Biden’s schedule. Earlier, the controversy erupted when Japanese media reported that Kishida had considered canceling a meeting with Yoon after South Korean officials leaked information about the summit before it took place. An official in Yoon’s office said there was a “difference of opinion” over the timing of the announcement of the talks. Polls show the debacle has hurt Yoon, who took office in May, with a Gallup poll released Friday showing his approval rating had fallen to 28 percent from 33 percent last week.
