When Moon arrived in Pyongyang in September 2018, a reported 100,000 people greeted him, many waving either the North Korean flag or the blue-and-white Korean unification standard. No one was holding the symbol of Moon's country, the Republic of Korea, yet he smiled the whole time and showed no displeasure at this breach of diplomatic protocol. The only South Korean flags in evidence were the two painted on the plane that brought Moon to Pyongyang and the flag badge on the lapel of Samsung's Lee Jae-yong. None of Moon's aides wore a lapel badge of the South's flag. Moon didn't either.
Throughout the trip, Moon went out of his way to downplay the legitimacy of the country he was elected to represent. His language was the key sign. While visiting the North, he often referred to South Korea as “nam cheuk,” literally meaning “south side” or “south,” when the custom has been for South Korean leaders to say “Hanguk,” literally “country of Han people.” Moon also spoke of “nam cheuk gookmin,” which translates as “south-side citizens.” South Korean presidents would normally say “uri gookmin,” literally “our citizens” and figuratively “my citizens.” In effect, Moon's terminology portrayed South Koreans as residents of one geographical part of Korea rather than the citizens of a distinct country.
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