South Korea’s Yoon on summer holiday as Nancy Pelosi visits Seoul from Taiwan

Pelosi is set to meet National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo, leaders of the ruling conservative People Power Party, and the opposition Democratic Party of Korea

While President Yoon’s holiday was planned in advance, some netizens speculate he is avoiding a meeting with Pelosi in deference to China’s wrath

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South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol is on a break. File photo: Reuters

Published: 8:30pm, 3 Aug 2022Updated: 9:41pm, 3 Aug 2022

In South Korea, the phrase “nunchi” is used to describe the subtle art of gauging the mood of an influential person, and it has trended on social media amid speculation that President Yoon Suk-yeol is avoiding US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in deference to China’s wrath.

The senior US official arrived in Seoul on Wednesday night as part of her Asian tour, following a high-profile visit to Taiwan that sparked fury from Beijing.

The Congresswoman, who is second in line to the US presidency, will on Thursday meet South Korea’s National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo and leaders of the ruling conservative People Power Party, as well as the opposition Democratic Party of Korea.

Pelosi and Kim plan to issue a joint press statement that will summarise their talks, which are expected to last about an hour, but they will not take any questions from journalists, according to a parliamentary source.

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen hold a joint press conference in Taipei on August 3, 2022. Photo: Taiwan Presidential Palace/dpa

Conspicuously, Yoon has no plans to meet Pelosi as he is currently on a summer holiday, an official at the presidential office said.