This photo provided Yonhap News reader Kim Ye-rim shows former U.S. President Bill Clinton (C) in central Seoul.(Yonhap)
SEOUL, May 20 (Korea Bizwire) — Photos and videos of former U.S. President Bill Clinton apparently sightseeing in central Seoul have been shared online, raising speculation over the nature of seemingly his first visit to South Korea in decades.
The posts, shared on social media and online communities, showed the former U.S. president reportedly visiting the Gwanghwamun and Insadong areas, popular tourist destinations in the South Korean capital, on Sunday.
Some posts showed Clinton taking photos with locals and exchanging conversation.
During his presidency, Clinton visited South Korea in November 1998 for a summit with then South Korean President Kim Dae-jung.
The Clinton Foundation did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment. It did not share information on Clinton’s possible visit to South Korea on its official channels.
There was no official schedule organized by Seoul’s foreign ministry in connection with Clinton’s visit, according to a ministry official.
There were also no known meetings arranged with major conglomerates in connection with his visit, according to sources in the industry community.
Recently, Laura Loomer, known as a right-wing political activist in the United States, claimed on X, formerly Twitter, that Clinton will be visiting South Korea on an itinerary that includes a meeting with private equity firm MBK Partners chief Kim Byung-joo. Loomer did not specify the purpose of their meeting.
MBK Partners said it cannot verify such a claim.
Kim, a U.S. national also known as Michael Kim, topped the list of “Korea’s 50 Richest” released by Forbes last month. His net worth was estimated at US$9.5 billion.
(Yonhap)
