President Lee Jae Myung speaks to international media at Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps
Marking the primary anniversary of former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s abrupt declaration of martial regulation and the following nationwide disaster, President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday invited greater than 80 international correspondents to a press convention at Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul.
The press briefing, which started at 10 a.m. and lasted about 70 minutes, was open solely to reporters with international media retailers. Korean media had a separate alternative earlier within the morning for a 30-minute Q&A session, following Lee’s particular nationwide tackle at 9 a.m. on the presidential workplace in Seoul.
Though Lee beforehand held two formal press conferences for each home and worldwide media, Wednesday’s session marked the primary time his administration hosted an occasion solely for international correspondents. A presidential official informed The Korea Occasions that the choice was supposed to speak instantly with the worldwide neighborhood about what the administration calls the restoration of “Okay-democracy” following final yr’s martial regulation disaster.
“The president wished to ship a message to the world about Korea’s democratic restoration,” the official stated. “The truth that martial regulation was declared however then peacefully overturned by the folks attracted vital world consideration, and this press occasion was designed with that in thoughts.”
President Lee Jae Myung takes questions from international correspondents at Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps
Lee himself underscored this level in his concluding remarks, highlighting the historic function international media have performed in Korea’s democratic struggles.
Recalling the 1980 Gwangju Democratization Motion, Lee stated that, misled by state-controlled media on the time, he had as soon as believed the navy regime’s claims towards “rioters” and initially supported the violent suppression.
He famous that the prevailing perception that america had tacitly allowed the navy’s actions in Gwangju fueled extreme anti-U.S. sentiment and prompted assaults on American installations in Korea, together with the U.S. embassy. The president stated these historic anxieties resurfaced throughout final yr’s martial regulation disaster.
“In 1980, all home media have been censored. It was the images taken by international correspondents that exposed the reality of Gwangju to the world,” Lee stated. “That’s one motive why, on the evening martial regulation was declared final yr, I livestreamed on YouTube because the opposition chief to forestall an data blackout.”
President Lee Jae Myung speaks to international correspondents at Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps
Lee emphasised the important function of the press and revealed that the federal government maintained shut communication with the U.S. Embassy and officers in Washington all through the disaster to keep away from misunderstandings that may jeopardize the bilateral alliance.
“Due to previous experiences, we have been deeply involved that any misstep could possibly be interpreted as U.S. help for, or tolerance of, navy insurrectionists,” he stated. “We reached out extensively to U.S. diplomatic counterparts, and luckily many points have been resolved,” Lee stated.
The president added that swift, goal statements from U.S. authorities — in addition to vigorous reporting by each home and international media — empowered Korean residents to behave decisively in defending their democracy.
Lee concluded the briefing by as soon as once more underscoring the function of the international press.
“Please assist the world perceive the dwelling instance of Korea’s democracy: its direct participation, its resilience and what we name Okay-democracy,” he stated.
