The Blue House announced on Wednesday that President Yoon has decided to postpone his state visit to Germany and Denmark, which were scheduled for five nights starting this Sunday, due to various circumstances. This is the first time he has postponed a planned overseas trip. He has reportedly received consent from Germany and Denmark, but details of his next travel plans are yet to be confirmed.
The decision was not made until late Tuesday afternoon. Although the presidential administration ultimately chose to give priority to domestic matters, such as people’s livelihood, economy, and national security, the National Security Council and those in charge of presidential protocol emphasized the significance of sticking to the original visit plan, and opinions were divided within the organization. Ta. A senior official at the Blue House said the decision was based on political “judgment,” adding that President Yoon had decided to postpone the tour after considering the domestic and international situation. Details of his next trip are yet to be confirmed, according to reports.
The postponement of his visit to Japan, which is effectively considered a cancellation, is interpreted to have been done out of concern that the trip itself could cause political trouble, with only 50 days remaining until the general election in April. In addition, controversy continues over allegations that First Lady Kim Kun-hee received a Christian Dior wallet as a gift. Considering this, her participation in overseas trips would inevitably lead to controversy and could have a negative impact on public opinion. The ruling party reportedly shared such concerns with the presidential palace. It can also be interpreted as an intention to prevent trouble after traveling abroad by shifting emphasis to policies that are more in line with people’s livelihoods, such as measures to stabilize prices, and preparing for collective action by the medical community to oppose government plans. To increase the number of medical students. “In the worst-case scenario, international travel may be of little use and lead to further strain on governance. It is safe to resume travel plans even after the risk of political tensions has subsided,” a presidential official said. said.
Nevertheless, such a sudden postponement, decided just days before the scheduled date, has been criticized and debated as a possible diplomatic misconduct. According to senior officials, the government has revised travel plans that had been made before the Lunar New Year holiday. However, Germany and Denmark were not notified of the postponement until late Tuesday night Korean time. Another government official said the countries understood the decision and did not expect any serious diplomatic repercussions, suggesting that they may have been seriously preparing but were a little disappointed. added.
Jung Joo-young aimhigh@donga.com ・Shin Jin-woo niceshin@donga.com