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Susan Walsh/AP
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol handled President Joe Biden and fellow dinner friends to a rendition of Don McLean’s “American Pie” on the White Home Wednesday evening.
It was the nightcap to a packed day for the 2 heads of state, who earlier introduced their Washington Declaration on nuclear deterrence and signaled strengthening financial ties.
However at house, Yoon faces criticism for pushing anti-feminist laws and rising the connection between South Korea and Japan.
Who’s he? Yoon Suk Yeol, 62, is the President of South Korea. He started his five-year time period final Could.
- Yoon defeated Democratic candidate Lee Jae-myung as a political newcomer, profitable by a margin of lower than 1%.
- A member of the right-wing Folks Energy Social gathering, Yoon ran on a platform of deregulating the economic system and restoring unity within the nation. He additionally appealed to anti-feminist voters, notably younger males, by vowing to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Household throughout his marketing campaign.
- During the last 12 months, Yoon has deepened the connection between South Korea and the US, which seeks in South Korea a associate in opposition to financial competitors with China and an ally amid tensions over Taiwan.
- He is additionally, apparently, a good singer. For a short second, the White Home grew to become a noraebang, which implies karaoke spot in Korean — the phrase actually interprets to “music room.” This is his full efficiency from the reception dinner Wednesday evening:
YouTube
What is the massive deal? Yoon is on a six-day tour of the US (no, not for a cappella). His journey marks the primary time a South Korean head of state has visited the U.S. in 12 years, and comes at a time of rising nuclear tensions on the Korean peninsula.
- Biden mentioned in a joint press convention with Yoon on Wednesday {that a} nuclear assault on the U.S. or its allies, which incorporates South Korea, would imply the “finish of no matter regime” at fault.
- Yoon has additionally met with members of the non-public sector, together with Tesla boss Elon Musk, as South Korea seeks deeper investments in semiconductors, batteries and electrical autos. Korean Yonhap Information Company reported that in a gathering Wednesday, Yoon requested Musk to spend money on South Korea and contemplate it a candidate for the corporate’s subsequent gigafactory.
What are folks saying? Yoon addressed a joint session of Congress on Thursday, touting the deep relationship between the U.S. and South Korea that started 70 years in the past. He additionally dropped a number of cultural references in speech, which he delivered in English.
- “Tradition helps to additional deepen our understanding and friendship. Nationality and language variations are now not limitations,” Yoon mentioned, mentioning the Oscars success of movies Parasite and Minari, and mentioning Ok-Pop teams BTS and Black Pink. “BTS beat me to the White Home, however I beat them to Capitol Hill,” he quipped.
- However at house, the South Korean president has been experiencing decrease ranges of help for championing a more in-depth diplomatic relationship with Japan regardless of its colonial, imperialist previous.
So, what now?
- Yoon has additionally scheduled conferences with Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Yoon is anticipated to go to Harvard College and MIT on Friday earlier than leaving for Seoul on Saturday.
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