Hot mic catches South Korean president swearing after talking to Biden


South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has gone viral after a hot mic caught him swearing about U.S. lawmakers, reports CNN.
Video footage seems to capture a comment he made after briefly conversing with President Biden at a Wednesday conference for the Global Fund held in New York City. The YouTube video, published by South Korean television broadcaster MBC, has amassed over five million views since the news channel posted it.
In the video, Yoon walks along the stage after the brief meeting with Biden before speaking to his aides. CNN reports that he appears to say, "It would be so embarrassing for Biden if those f---ers at the National Assembly don't approve this [bill]."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Yoon's swearing remark seems to be in response to Biden's pledge to contribute $6 billion to the Global Fund, which focuses on combating HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria in the developing world. Biden's pledge would require congressional approval to become a reality.
Yoon has previously received backlash from his opponents for missing the viewing of Queen Elizabeth's lying in state in London, which he explained was due to heavy traffic. His opponents also criticized him for failing to show up to meet U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) when she visited South Korea last month.
House Foreign Affairs Chair Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) responded to the swearing, saying, "Our relationship with South Korea is too close for too long, for a slippage of words or anything else to destroy that," Politico reports.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Theara Coleman has worked as a staff writer at The Week since September 2022. She frequently writes about technology, education, literature and general news. She was previously a contributing writer and assistant editor at Honeysuckle Magazine, where she covered racial politics and cannabis industry news.
-
Jack Draper: can Britain's Wimbledon hopeful unseat Carlos Alcaraz?
In the Spotlight 'Volcano of emotion' smashes his racket during defeat in Queen's semi-final but world No.4 shows 'fighting spirit'
-
Crossword: June 23, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
-
How far would Russia go for Iran?
Today's Big Question US air strikes represent an 'embarrassment, provocation and opportunity' all rolled into one for Vladimir Putin
-
Trump's LA deployment in limbo after court rulings
Speed Read Judge Breyer ruled that Trump's National Guard deployment to Los Angeles was an 'illegal' overreach. But a federal appellate court halted the ruling.
-
Marines, National Guard in LA can detain Americans
speed read The troops have been authorized to detain anyone who interferes with immigration raids
-
Trump vows 'very big force' against parade protesters
Speed Read The parade, which will shut down much of the capital, will celebrate the US Army's 250th anniversary and Trump's 79th birthday
-
Smithsonian asserts its autonomy from Trump
speed read The DC institution defied Trump's firing of National Portrait Gallery Director Kim Sajet
-
Trump sends Marines to LA, backs Newsom arrest
speed read California Gov. Gavin Newsom is filing lawsuits in response to Trump's escalation of the federal response to ICE protests
-
Trump foists National Guard on unwilling California
speed read Protests erupted over ICE immigration raids in LA county
-
Supreme Court lowers bar in discrimination cases
speed read The court ruled in favor of a white woman who claimed she lost two deserved promotions to gay employees
-
Trump-Musk relationship implodes in taunts, threats
speed read Musk said Trump's multitrillion bill would cause a recession and accused the president of involvement with Jeffrey Epstein