Seoul counters reports that Korean president's foul language was directed at U.S. Congress

Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, right, shakes hands with U.S. President Joe Biden at the Global Fund's Seventh Replenishment Conference in New York on Wednesday. [AFP/YONHAP]

Seoul's presidential office adamantly countered reports that President Yoon Suk-yeol's hot mic moment using foul language, which drew widespread backlash, was directed at the U.S. Congress and said it was instead referring to the Korean National Assembly.

On Wednesday, Yoon was caught on camera using profanity during the Global Fund's Seventh Replenishment Conference hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

In a video recording first released by the broadcaster MBC, Yoon apparently remarked to his foreign minister and national security adviser while exiting the fundraiser event, "If those [expletive] do not pass it in the [parliament], [Biden] will lose face."

Some parts of Yoon's remarks in the clip were drowned out by loud music and background noise.

Initial reports speculated he was referring to Biden's ambitious pledge to contribute another $6 billion to the Global Fund in cooperation with the U.S. Congress. The parliament he referred to was assumed to be the U.S. Congress.

In Korea, lawmakers of the liberal Democratic Party (DP) immediately criticized Yoon's remarks as being "humiliating" and akin to a "diplomatic disaster." They called for an apology from the president.

U.S. media outlets soon picked up on Yoon's hot mic moment "insulting" U.S. lawmakers. The Washington Post on Thursday reported "South Korean president overheard insulting U.S. Congress as 'idiots,'" and CNN, MSNBC, Fox News and other American broadcasters also reported on the incident as Yoon's remarks became viral.

However, in a press conference in New York on Thursday, Kim Eun-hye, senior presidential secretary for press affairs, said Yoon was not referring to the U.S. Congress and also said that he had made no mention of Biden.

She claimed that the actual word used was nallimeun, the Korean word for "throw out," rather than "Biden."

Kim said and Yoon was talking about how he himself would be embarrassed if Korea's National Assembly rejected the $100 million he pledged to contribute to the Global Fund.

Likewise, she said the word Yoon used for "parliament" was in fact referring to the Korean National Assembly, not the U.S. Congress.

Yoon in a short speech at the event pledged $100 million to the fund over three years as a part of efforts to fight H.I.V., tuberculosis and malaria and strengthen the global health system.

Kim said that Yoon had "no reason" to refer to the U.S. Congress or Biden in this circumstance, in response to the DP's criticism.

"Overnight, the Republic of Korea was reduced overnight to a country that mocked an allied nation which it has been together with for nearly 70 years," said Kim. "We accept criticism of the president and state affairs at any time, but distorting the president's diplomatic activities and driving a wedge between allies with lies is an act of self-harm to the national interest."

However, Kim's explanation immediately raised the ire of Korea's DP, which holds a majority in the National Assembly. DP floor leader Park Hong-keun on Friday requested an apology from Yoon "as the person responsible" for the remark.

Though not initially on the attendee list, Yoon was invited to the fundraiser event last minute after plans to hold a summit with Biden fell apart. The two leaders held a brief 48-second conversation during the event in lieu of a summit.

Korea had been anticipating the summit with Biden, as it was an important opportunity for Seoul to raise its concerns over the United States' Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which doesn't allow tax credits for electric vehicles assembled outside North America.

Yoon had three encounters with Biden during his weeklong overseas trip, including in a reception in London, the fundraiser event and another reception in New York hosted by the U.S. presidential couple for foreign dignitaries attending the UN General Assembly.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]