Daily Press Briefing
Spokesperson Moon Tae-young
April 29, 2008  14:00 KST

1. Opening Statement

I will now begin today’s briefing.

The MOFAT will appoint idol dance group ‘Super Junior’ as Goodwill Ambassadors for the promotion of 
‘2008, 50th Anniversary of Korea-Thailand Diplomatic Relations’ on April 30.  

The Goodwill Ambassadors will support the promotion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between 
Korea and Thailand by having a concert in Bangkok this year and attending the reception for commemorating 
the anniversary in October. They are expected to make a significant contribution in promoting the friendship 
of the two countries.

Korea and Thailand will prepare various events to commemorate their 50th anniversary of diplomatic 
relations including performances of traditional orchestras and trade • investment exhibitions.

Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Yong-joon will visit China today to discuss President Lee Myung-bak’s schedule 
for his visit to China. Deputy Minister Lee will meet with Liu Hongcai, Vice Minister of the International 
Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Tomorrow he will meet with Vice Foreign Minister Wang 
Yi, followed by Korea-China Deputy Foreign Ministers’ talks with Assistant Foreign Minister He Yafei.

This is the end of my opening statement, and I will now take questions.

2. Q&A

[Q:]
The Prime Minister said that legal and diplomatic measures must follow with regard to the illicit protest of 
the Chinese people. Please tell us what kind of steps the MOFAT is considering to take.

[Spokesperson]
The Korean government summoned Chinese Ambassador Ning Fukui yesterday and expressed strong 
regret about the Chinese students’ acts of violence during the Olympic torch relay. In return, Ambassador 
Ning delivered words of regret and comfort regarding the violent behavior of some of the Chinese students 
that caused injuries to Korean policemen and reporters.

[Q:]
That was yesterday. Are there any developments?

[Spokesperson]
What the Prime Minister meant by ‘taking legal and diplomatic measures’ was to take firm actions 
diplomatically. I believe he did not mean to take further measures.

[Q:]
Does this mean that the MOFAT does not intend to ask the Chinese government for an official apology or 
for the prevention of recurrence of such incidents?

[Spokesperson]
Currently we are waiting for the results of the police investigation and other legal actions. With regard to 
Ambassador Ning Fukui’s expression of regret yesterday, an Ambassador represents his country, so we 
may understand that the Chinese Ambassador expressed the position of the Chinese government.

[Q:]
It is well known that an organization of Chinese students in Korea called CSSA led yesterday’s protest. The 
group had been arrested by the FBI many times. The FBI thinks that the Chinese Communist Party is 
encouraging students to participate in spy activities. I wish to ask whether the MOFAT has verified anything 
on this.

[Spokesperson]
Somebody asked a similar question yesterday during the briefing. We’re currently waiting for the outcomes 
of the police investigation.

[Q:]
If the outcomes prove that the Chinese government was indeed related to yesterday’s protest, then does 
the MOFAT have any intention to ask for an official apology or take other follow-up measures?

[Spokesperson]
Anyway, the Chinese Embassy denied that they had anything to do with mobilizing Chinese students and 
said that they asked the students to be careful not to cause any accidents such as clashing with the Korean 
public.

[Q:]
The Ministry of Justice said that it will deport the Chinese who were arrested, once their criminal penalties 
are proven. Is that a legal action or a diplomatic measure? What’s the procedure?

[Spokesperson]
Those are legal actions, and we are waiting for the outcomes of the investigation results from the Ministry of 
Justice and the police. 

[Q:]
Does deportation have anything to do with diplomatic action?

[Spokesperson]
Deportation of ordinary citizens is up to the Ministry of Justice, not the MOFAT.

[Q:]
Yesterday, you said that Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Ning Fukui paid a visit to the MOFAT and 
delivered a statement of regret, and the ROK government expressed strong regret on the incident. The 
MOFAT officials reportedly discussed summoning the Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Ning Fukui on 
the day of the protest. Please give us the details of the discussion, and tell us if you think the apology from 
China was enough.

[Spokesperson]
As I told you in the briefing yesterday, as we were about to summon him, the Chinese Ambassador to South 
Korea Ning Fukui told us that he was going to visit the MOFAT, so we decided to accept it. With regard to 
additional actions on the incident, we are currently waiting for the outcomes of the police investigation and 
legal actions, and we will consult with relevant ministries to respond to the issue.

[Q:]
I have an additional question. There are criticisms that the MOFAT accepted the apology from China, without 
summoning the Ambassador. The critics are saying it is a low-key diplomacy. What do you think about this? 

[Spokesperson]
As I said yesterday, we expressed strong regret and I do not believe it is humble diplomacy. 
Expressing strong regret on a issue is a very strong gesture in diplomacy.

[Q:]
Your comments imply that there will be no additional diplomatic action taken. Deputy Minister Lee Yong-joon 
is in China to discuss the Summit. Does this mean that he is not going to express regret again on the 
incident while he is there?

[Spokesperson]
I assume he will express regret.

[Q:]
Special Representative Kim Sook is visiting the US. Can you tell us about the consultations?

[Spokesperson]
They had the discussion just a few hours ago, so we haven’t received the details as of yet. We will try to 
share the results of the meeting with you as soon as he returns tomorrow.

[Q:]
Has Minister Yu mentioned anything on the torch relay issue?

[Spokesperson]
I cannot comment on that now. I can only say that Minister Yu and senior officials had a detailed discussion 
on the issue.

[Q:]
You said Deputy Minister Lee Yong-joon will express regret on the torch relay incident while he is in China. 
How and to whom is he going to deliver this?

[Spokesperson]
I did not say he is definitely going to. I said I assume he will. It is not appropriate for me to say that he is 
going to do something before he meets with his counterpart.

If you have no further question, I will end the briefing now.