Did the South Korean president use vulgar language in a speech? — Radio Free Asia

A declare emerged on Korean-language posts that South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol used vulgar language throughout a January speech, citing a video as proof. 

However the declare is fake. The subtitles of the video are faux and misrepresent what Yoon mentioned. A overview of the total clip of Yoon’s speech reveals that he made no vulgar remarks. 

The screenshots had been shared on the favored South Korean on-line group Etoland on Jan. 18. Etoland customers are sometimes backers of South Korea’s Democratic Social gathering, identified for its pro-China stance.

“Yoon Suk Yeol turns into huffy when a citizen mentions the R&D finances,” reads the declare partly. R&D, or Analysis and Growth, entails innovating and enhancing merchandise or processes, important for aggressive benefits.

The declare was shared alongside what seems to be screenshots of a video that reveals Yoon’s speech. 

A subtitle overlaid on the screenshot options Yoon’s face, seemingly transcribing his feedback, stating: “Since you guys hold bullshitting in regards to the R&D finances, we’ll considerably improve it. We solely minimize R&D by 5 trillion Korean gained, so cease speaking shit.”

The identical declare and screenshots had been shared on Bobaedream, one other standard on-line group in South Korea, in addition to on YouTube.

However the declare is fake. 

Unique video

A mixture of key phrase and picture searches discovered the screenshots had been taken from a video that reveals Yoon’s coverage briefing session on Jan. 4. 

A separate search discovered the total model of the clip posted by South Korea’s state-run KTV on its YouTube channel on Jan. 5.

The scene seen within the screenshots with faux subtitles begins on the video’s one-hour, 17-minute and 12-second mark. 

“I’ll drastically improve the R&D finances throughout my tenure.” Yoon mentioned. “Nonetheless, for now, we have now lowered it a bit, however not by lots.”

A overview of the unique video reveals Yoon made no vulgar feedback throughout his speech. 

False Narrative

In 2022, Yoon was accused by an area broadcaster MBC of swearing after a quick assembly with the U.S. President Joe Biden on the International Fund in New York. 

In September 2022, MBC launched a video of Yoon with the subtitles saying, “If these [expletive] don’t move it within the [parliament], [Biden] will lose face,” whereas leaving the International Fund’s Seventh Replenishment Convention.

Nonetheless, the presidential workplace mentioned then that the precise phrase used was “nallimeun,” the Korean phrase for “throw out,” moderately than “Biden.” It mentioned that Yoon’s precise phrases had been: 

“If they don’t move it within the [parliament], [then] throw [the bill] out.”

Yoon’s workplace sued MBC, claiming it had misrepresented feedback caught on a sizzling mic wherein he appeared to insult the US.

In January, a Seoul court docket dominated in favor of Yoon, discovering his feedback weren’t clear attributable to background noise. 

Individually, the Korea Communications Requirements Fee, an establishment of the South Korean authorities that regulates communications together with movie, tv, radio and web, determined to effective MBC on Tuesday over its protection of Yoon’s 2022 remarks.

“It’s honest to say that the media escalated the president’s personal dialog to a diplomatic subject by reporting Yoon’s phrases between its advisers and workers,” mentioned standing commissioner Hwang Seong-wook.

Since MBC’s 2022 report, nonetheless, critics have continuously scrutinized Yoon’s public talking skills and demeanor, labeling him as “not appropriate” for public addresses. Some have even falsely speculated that dementia impedes his skill to talk successfully in public.

Edited by Malcolm Foster.

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