President Lee: "Whether in Back Alleys or on Social Media, the People Are There... Direct Communication Is a Crucial Duty"

▲ President Lee Jae-myung

President Lee Jae-myung said today (October 29), "Whether in shabby back alleys or within anonymous online communities and social media, the people are there," adding, "Direct communication between (the president and) the people in back alleys or on social media is a crucial duty that must not be abandoned."

President Lee made the remarks in a post titled "People Live in Back Alleys, Too" on his X (formerly Twitter) account earlier in the day.

The remarks are seen as a rebuttal to recent criticism over his frequent social media posts, reaffirming his commitment to continuing direct communication through social platforms.

President Lee explained, "As the representative public servant of the people who holds the responsibility and authority to serve the nation and its citizens, the president may formally dine with highly educated, wealthy, and influential figures under official protocol, or intentionally seek out dark, narrow back alleys to meet ordinary citizens struggling in their daily lives."

He added, "One can grasp reality through official reports and representative figures, or communicate with the world through anonymous online communities and electronic messages that arrive day and night."

At the same time, he stated, "I can report indirectly to the public through press conferences, but I can also report directly to the people via social media."

President Lee repeatedly emphasized, "Neither should be judged as a good thing to encourage or a bad thing to avoid," adding, "Whether influential figures or powerless ordinary citizens, all are sovereign citizens of the Republic of Korea whom I must serve."

Meanwhile, President Lee shared an article reporting that a college student had been booked on charges of spreading false information regarding victims of Japanese military sexual slavery ('comfort women'), noting, "Spreading false information is a crime. The police have formed a dedicated task force and are conducting an intensive investigation." He warned, "Spreading false information 'for attention or just for fun' can leave a deeply regrettable, major stain on one's life."

President Lee added, "It is likely done out of ignorance, but a crime is not tolerated just because one did not know it was an offense. I hope people exercise caution."

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