The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Garbage collector mistakes sex doll for corpse

  • 3

    Free subway rides for elderly emerge as headache for Seoul mayor

  • 5

    Korea seeks measures to better protect foreign workers

  • 7

    Retailers return to Myeong-dong as more foreign tourists visit

  • 9

    Is non-consensual sex not rape?

  • 11

    4 South Korean activists arrested for executing orders from Pyongyang

  • 13

    President pledges support for Korean chipmakers to overcome crisis

  • 15

    Pyongyang threatens eye-for-eye response as US B-1B bombers join drills in South Korea

  • 17

    Police to introduce new measures to better handle intoxicated people

  • 19

    China imposes mandatory virus tests for arrivals from Korea only in latest protest over curbs

  • 2

    Major webtoon platforms' fight against piracy

  • 4

    Seoul city council under fire for sexual conduct guidelines for teachers

  • 6

    Samsung unveils new Galaxy S23 smartphone

  • 8

    ENHYPEN-inspired webtoon 'Dark Moon: The Blood Altar' surpasses 100 million views

  • 10

    Japanese comic series 'Slam Dunk' enjoys resurgence on back of animated film

  • 12

    INTERVIEWA touch of authenticity in Korea's Mexican cuisine scene

  • 14

    $120,000 banana, praying Hitler: Infamous art world prankster Maurizio Cattelan's first Seoul outing

  • 16

    Income gap widening among workers

  • 18

    Korea's presidential couple celebrates recovery of Cambodian boy who received heart surgery

  • 20

    Retired actress Shim Eun-ha denies rumor of return

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Fri, February 3, 2023 | 18:29
Was Obama Fatigued?
Posted : 2009-11-19 20:40
Updated : 2009-11-19 20:40
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
By Oh Young-jin
Staff Reporter

"What got into him?"

This was the question some Koreans had, after finding that the visiting U.S. President Barack Obama had minimized his public exposure during his less than 24-hour visit to Korea, the last leg of his long Asian swing.

Perhaps, it was a strenuous walk along the fortress of the Great Wall in Beijing or a visit to the Forbidden City or a Chinese banquet that offered one too many items on their multi-course menu. Or was he already feeling homesick, having left behind his wife and alter ego ― Michelle ― and his two adorable daughters?

There was no official explanation about why Obama, the 46-year-"young" President with an athletic build from years of playing basketball, hunkered down in a U.S. base, scarcely allowing himself to be shown to the Korean public.

According to news reports, Obama went straight to bed after a few official functions upon arriving in Korea. Instead of staying in a hotel or the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, the usual practice during previous visits by U.S. heads of state, the 44th U.S. President stayed in the U.S. Airbase in Osan.

Even during his motorcade to and from Seoul for his summit with President Lee Myung-bak, it was hard to welcome him. Although it was not unusual, managers of most of the tall buildings located along his motorcade's route were asked to keep their windows closed for security precautions.

Behind the Samsung buildings in downtown Seoul was a large contingent of special police forces being ready to be dispatched for any emergency.

Still, Korean government officials tried their best to make Obama's visit look like business as usual.

One Foreign Ministry official was quoted as saying, "President Obama must be tired because of his prior engagements before arriving."

But apparently he expressed his disappointment, when he added that it was unusual that Obama opted not to use Seoul Airport and, instead, landed at Osan Airbase. Seoul Airport, located inside an Air Force base on the outskirts of Seoul, is used as an official gateway for foreign dignitaries when they arrive and depart from Korea.

Obama had about 15 "free" hours between his arrival in Korea and his meeting with President Lee in Cheong Wa Dae.

If he felt tired, it would be hard to blame him.

He had visited Japan and hopped to Singapore for the APEC meeting before traveling to China. He had a series of meetings with top Chinese leaders, including President Hu Jintao. He also spoke to a selected group of Chinese students in Shanghai, which was not broadcast across the country. During his China stay, he also experienced what some view as the shift from an aging power to a new one.

Although few said it aloud, some Koreans felt sorry about the lack of chances to get to know Obama better. Perhaps, next time.

foolsdie@koreatimes.co.kr
 
Top 10 Stories
1Seoul city council under fire for sexual conduct guidelines for teachers Seoul city council under fire for sexual conduct guidelines for teachers
2Samsung unveils new Galaxy S23 smartphone Samsung unveils new Galaxy S23 smartphone
3[INTERVIEW] A touch of authenticity in Korea's Mexican cuisine scene INTERVIEWA touch of authenticity in Korea's Mexican cuisine scene
4Pyongyang threatens eye-for-eye response as US B-1B bombers join drills in South Korea Pyongyang threatens eye-for-eye response as US B-1B bombers join drills in South Korea
5Police to introduce new measures to better handle intoxicated people Police to introduce new measures to better handle intoxicated people
6Gov't announces measures to cope with shortage of surgeons Gov't announces measures to cope with shortage of surgeons
7[INTERVIEW] 'Extended deterrence is best option to ensure peace on Korean Peninsula' INTERVIEW'Extended deterrence is best option to ensure peace on Korean Peninsula'
8[INTERVIEW] US-NK summit is unlikely in 2023: Korea Society INTERVIEWUS-NK summit is unlikely in 2023: Korea Society
9[INTERVIEW] IMF expects no recession for Korean economy INTERVIEWIMF expects no recession for Korean economy
10Taxi passengers in Seoul taken aback by fare increase Taxi passengers in Seoul taken aback by fare increase
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Major webtoon platforms' fight against piracy Major webtoon platforms' fight against piracy
2ENHYPEN-inspired webtoon 'Dark Moon: The Blood Altar' surpasses 100 million views ENHYPEN-inspired webtoon 'Dark Moon: The Blood Altar' surpasses 100 million views
3$120,000 banana, praying Hitler: Infamous art world prankster Maurizio Cattelan's first Seoul outing $120,000 banana, praying Hitler: Infamous art world prankster Maurizio Cattelan's first Seoul outing
4PULL UP: VIVIZ returns with new song about gossipers PULL UP: VIVIZ returns with new song about gossipers
5Park Hyung-sik to play crown prince in tvN series 'Our Blooming Youth' Park Hyung-sik to play crown prince in tvN series 'Our Blooming Youth'
DARKROOM
  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

  • World Cup 2022 France vs Morocco

    World Cup 2022 France vs Morocco

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group