Korean Culture Minister Yu In-chon abruptly returns home midway through Korea-Japan ministerial meeting

Korea's Culture Minister Yu In-chon unexpectedly returned home from Japan for National Assembly session, leading to the first vice minister attending the talks in his place.

Culture Minister Yu In-chon [NEWS1]

KYOTO, Japan — Yu In-chon, Korea’s Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, who was scheduled to attend the Korea-Japan bilateral talks with the Japanese culture minister, followed by the Korea-Japan-China Culture Ministers’ Meeting in Kyoto, Japan, on Thursday, abruptly returned to Korea that morning.

Yong Ho-seong, the first vice minister of culture, sports, and tourism, arrived in Kyoto on Wednesday night to attend the talks on Yu's behalf on Thursday morning. The bilateral meeting began at 9:45 a.m.

“Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yu In-chon, who was scheduled to attend the Korea-Japan-China Culture Ministers’ Meeting, had to return to Korea to attend the fourth day of the National Assembly’s interpellation session on education, society and culture, which is being held on Thursday at 2 p.m.,” said Kang Su-sang, the spokesperson for the Culture Ministry. “Minister Yu had to fly back this morning due to difficulties in coordinating his absence from the National Assembly.”

The Culture Ministry said it notified Japan and China regarding Yu’s sudden departure and requested their understanding on Tuesday night.

BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [yim.seunghye@joongang.co.kr]