(Note: Update possible reasons for postponement)
Written by Lee Hae
SEOUL, February 14 (Yonhap) – President Yoon Seok-Yeol has postponed a visit to Germany and Denmark scheduled for next week after considering various factors, officials said on Wednesday. The people are preparing for the parliamentary elections in April.
The official did not elaborate on the factors that led to the postponement, saying only that the decision was reached after consultations with both European countries.
South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol (Republican) and his wife Kim Kun-hee wave at the airport in Amsterdam, Netherlands, before returning home after a four-day state visit on December 14, 2023. (Union)
The sudden postponement was announced four days before Yun was reportedly scheduled to depart for Germany as a state guest and then make an official visit to Denmark. It has not yet been decided when the visit will be postponed.
Sources close to the government told Yonhap News Agency that the decision comes amid an impending strike by doctors to protest the North Korean government’s decision to raise admission quotas for medical schools. He said this reflects the need to focus on the future. South Korea continues to provoke.
Political insiders speculate that the timing was a factor, with less than two months left until the April 10 parliamentary elections.
Opposition parties frequently repeat that the president spends a lot of money on overseas trips, putting a new spotlight on first lady Kim Kun-hee — whether she joins the president or not. It would have given them another reason to attack with accusations. She has been away from her public life since December following allegations that she received a luxury handbag as a gift in 2022.
hague@yna.co.kr
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