During the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a physical confrontation occurred between an interpreter assigned to South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and a Brazilian security officer. The presidential office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that the altercation was caused by a procedural error on the Brazilian side, and they confirmed that Brazil issued an official apology for the incident.
The incident occurred Tuesday at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio during a G20 summit-related event. As President Yoon entered the venue along the red carpet, a Brazilian security officer blocked the interpreter, who was attempting to follow the president. The security officer extended his arms to block him when the interpreter tried to proceed. The interpreter persisted, leading to a brief physical clash between the two. Yoon, who appeared to notice the commotion, turned around briefly.
South Korean officials swiftly intervened, explaining the situation to the Brazilian security team. Although the interpreter was able to break through and accompany President Yoon, the incident was broadcast live worldwide on Sky News. The broadcast quickly switched to a panoramic view of Rio de Janeiro, cutting off the remainder of the altercation.
The presidential office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that the interpreter’s role was pre-arranged with Brazilian organizers. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that before the third session of the G20 summit, a meeting between the South Korean and South African leaders was scheduled, and the South Korean delegation had requested the Brazilian liaison’s assistance to ensure the interpreter could accompany the president into the meeting. However, this request was not communicated to the on-site security team, leading to the misunderstanding.
A Ministry official stated, “The Brazilian liaison re-explained the situation to the security personnel, allowing the interpreter to enter the meeting room with the president as planned.” They also confirmed that the Brazilian liaison formally apologized for the operational error.
The presidential office dismissed any concerns regarding the interpreter’s qualifications, confirming that Kim Won Jip, an administrative officer from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had been assigned to the presidential interpreting duties.
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