Netizens split over Park's English speech

By Kang Seung-woo

Internet users were divided over President Park Geun-hye’s speech made in English at the U.S. Congress.

Park addressed a joint session of Congress on Wednesday in English for 34 minutes.

Back home, netizens are divided over the appropriateness or otherwise of delivering the address in English.

“If Park had spoken Korean, there would have been a translator. I do not understand why she chose to use English,” said a Netizen. “Assume that U.S. President Barack Obama visits Korea and speaks Korean in his full speech and what kind of reactions would arise from U.S. citizens.”

There were also very positive reviews on several online platforms about the address being delivered in English.

“I’m impressed by her proficient command of English. It was good to see her speak in English at the Congress. I think she did a good job,” posted a Twitter with ID “Aza***.”

Kim Youn-soo, 30, a PhD candidate in communications, also said: “The audience is Americans and the site is in the United States, so we do not have to feel humiliated by her not speaking Korean.”

Kim added that: “By using English, it can be seen as diplomatic gesture that she considers the audience, and I think the U.S. lawmakers may have received such impression.”

Park, 61, is proficient in French, Spanish and Chinese, communicated in English during her meetings with British Ambassador Scott Wightman, U.S. Forces Korea Commander James Thurman and David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, according to presidential spokeswoman Kim Haing.

The main opposition Democratic Party (DP), however, criticized the English speech, calling it inappropriate.

“It is the nation’s pride that President Park is pentalingual, but it will be more touching if she uses Korean,” DP Vice Spokesman Heo Young-il said a day before the scheduled address.