Ⓒ JoongAng Ilbo / JoongAng Ilbo Japanese version2022.04.12 18:01
The National Assembly of South Korea was the venue for the 24th video speech by President Zelensky of Ukraine. The attitude of Korean politics that appeared there was embarrassing.
President Zelensky’s video speech to the National Assembly of South Korea was held on the 11th at the National Assembly Library, not at the plenary session of the National Assembly or the House of Representatives. Parliamentarians said the reason why the large screen of the plenary session could not be used was that there was a risk of instability in the process of sending video speeches in real time, citing network problems. However, it was an unconvincing explanation that it is difficult to send video in real time due to communication problems in South Korea, which is leading the 5G network technology.
Of course, the place does not influence the essence of the event. But the majority of parliamentarians did not even show the least sincerity for this video speech. About 50 members participated in this day’s event. The remaining 240 lawmakers finally disappeared from the National Diet Library. He listened to President Zelensky’s call, “I want South Korea to help us confront Russia.”
Lee Kwang-jae, chairman of the National Assembly’s diplomatic unification committee, who belongs to the Democratic Party of Korea, who made a successful video speech on that day, said, “It is significant that the leaders of the three Yono parties gathered to confirm their intention to cooperate with Ukraine. Most of the members who couldn’t attend in the meeting listened to the video speech in real time in their own room. “
It’s even harder to understand. The Senator Kaikan, where the Senator’s room is located, and the National Diet Library, where the video speech was held, are a 3-minute walk away. It is no different from the meaning that there was no “sincerity of about 3 minutes”.
◇ Contrast with Japan and the United States filled with seats
The difference is even more pronounced when compared to parliaments in other countries who enthusiastically cheered President Zelensky’s video speech. More than 500 members of the House of Councilors, including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, participated in the video speech at the Japanese Diet on the 23rd of last month. It was difficult to find a vacant seat in the First Members’ Office Building, where the speech was broadcast, and the standing ovation overflowed.
The same was true for video speeches in parliaments in the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom, Poland, Canada, the United States, Germany and France prior to that. Parliamentarians gathered at the scene with one feeling and supported the Ukrainian war.
Korean parliamentarians who did not attend the video speech venue on that day may have felt the same. But sometimes there is solidarity and support that can only be expressed when you are there. This is the case with President Zelensky’s video speech.
◇ “Evidence that Asia is not interested in Ukraine”
Such an embarrassing appearance was even used as a promotional material that South Korea was indifferent to the situation in Ukraine. Professor Artyom Lukin of Russia’s Far East Federal University posted a photo on Twitter on the 12th with a considerable number of vacant seats in the Korean Parliamentary Library, claiming “another proof that Asia is not interested in Ukraine.” ..
President Zelensky asked the South Korean parliament for the support of South Korea, saying, “Korea experienced the Korean War in the 1950s and many civilians lost their lives, but they won with the help of the international community.” However, the Korean Ministry of National Defense has drawn a line to military support, and the National Assembly has not even shown the feelings of pity for the disease. Can we argue that South Korea is stigmatized for being indifferent to the situation in Ukraine?