A picture of South Korean Nationwide Meeting Speaker Woo Gained-shik at a large navy parade in China has sparked baseless on-line rumours that he was relegated to the “farthest again seat” throughout the ceremony on September 3, 2025. The posts share an image that was cropped to provide the deceptive impression that Woo was remoted amongst safety employees.
“Woo Gained-shik’s seat on the China Victory Day celebration… he is sitting on the farthest again seat with the bodyguards,” reads a Korean-language put up that shared the picture September 3 on Ilbe, a far-right discussion board. “His expression seems to be rotten.”
Screenshot of the deceptive Fb put up captured September 4, with an orange X added by AFP
Comparable posts circulated in right-wing teams on Fb as troops marched in a navy parade in Beijing to commemorate the eightieth anniversary of the defeat of Japan and the tip of World Struggle II (archived hyperlink).
Chinese language President Xi Jinping presided over the occasion, prominently sitting subsequent to Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.
Woo’s workplace confirmed his attendance and reported he shook fingers with Kim on the occasion (archived hyperlink). South Korean experiences famous Woo’s seat was positioned away from Kim — probably to keep away from a delicate diplomatic tableau (archived hyperlink).
However Woo, who represented South Korea and President Lee Jae Myung on the commemoration, was nonetheless seated amongst overseas dignitaries — the image shared on-line has been misleadingly cropped.
Chinese language state media CCTV’s protection of the parade exhibits him positioned on the proper aspect of the Tiananmen Sq. rostrum, subsequent to Myanmar’s junta chief Min Aung Hlaing. Woo’s spouse additionally sat by him (archived hyperlinks right here and right here).
Screenshot comparability between the picture shared within the deceptive posts (L) and a corresponding scene from CCTV footage of delegates on the navy parade, with Woo’s placement marked in blue by AFP
Safety employees sporting crimson tags might be seen standing behind the delegation, however Woo was not seated amongst them.
The image circulating on-line was cropped to omit Min Aung Hlaing and different overseas officers, making Woo seem alone with a line of guards.
Woo’s seat corresponds to roughly the proper nook of the Tiananmen pavilion, as seen within the video’s 5:07 mark.
Screenshot of a wider shot of Tiananmen Sq., the place delegates watched the parade on September 3, with Woo’s approximate placement marked in crimson by AFP
A number of South Korean experiences commented that Woo’s seat was comparatively distant from Kim and Xi, however AFP might discover no credible proof that he was demoted to take a seat with safety employees (archived right here and right here).
AFP has beforehand debunked related claims concerning the remedy of South Korean dignitaries at worldwide occasions.
