President Lee to Ruling Camp Supporters: "Harsh Attitude Is an Obstacle to Reform and Unity"

President Lee Jae-myung referred to ruling camp supporters as "friends of the president," pointing out that "(a president's friend's) harsh attitude does not expand support and empathy, but ultimately becomes material for hatred and instigation directed at the president, as well as a reason and justification for criticism."

On the night of yesterday (September 19), President Lee posted a message titled "Friends of the President" on his social media, appealing for restraint in the use of hate speech: "Even now, let us discard hatred, sarcasm, and emotional condemnation, and step forward with rational criticism based on facts and affection, dignified persuasion, and warm appeals."

President Lee's remarks come in response to a controversy that arose two days ago (September 18) after he quoted a supporter's post on his social media following a press conference.

Quoting a post by a supporter summarizing the administration's reform achievements since taking office, President Lee wrote, "Thank you. It is a great comfort. Making a better world through more reform...."

However, controversy flared over whether President Lee had quoted the post with that in mind after it became known that the author had previously used the term 'Moon-Cho-Teol-Rae-Yu' (referring to Moon Jae-in, Cho Kuk, Kim Ou-joon, Jung Chung-rae, and Rhyu Si-min) to disparage other supporter groups within the ruling camp.

The post in question has currently been deleted.

Regarding the matter, President Lee explained, "When quoting someone's post on X (formerly Twitter), it is impossible to check every past post and expression by the author," adding, "Quoting an anonymous post is an endorsement of the expressed text itself, and does not mean supporting, defending, aligning with, or empathizing with all of the author's arguments and writings."

He added, "Nevertheless, if anyone was hurt by other writings of the quoted author, I express my regret and would like to say a few words."

President Lee wrote, "Friends of the president, we are comrades who rely on each other and act together to achieve our respective dreams through one another," urging, "Please act with the thought that you are Lee Jae-myung, and that you are the president."

He continued, "There is a saying that you can tell what a person is like by looking at their friends. If the person the president converses with while smiling is someone who routinely engages in verbal abuse, derogatory nicknames, and sarcasm, how would that president appear in the eyes of the public?"

He also pointed out, "A harsh attitude from a friend of the president does not expand support and empathy, but ultimately becomes material for hatred and instigation toward the president, as well as a reason and justification for criticism."

President Lee elaborated, "This rather puts the president in a bind, which is likely what those who wish to divide our camp desire," adding, "Attacking supporters while pretending to be a supporter is also a cheap and highly effective tactic to foment internal division and conflict."

He continued, "Escalating conflict and hostility through verbal abuse, sarcasm, derogatory terms, and hatred—rather than healthy debate and rational criticism—diminishes our allies and multiplies our enemies," explaining, "It does not help reform and unity, but rather raises obstacles."

President Lee emphasized, "They are all citizens and people whom we must eventually persuade and move forward with together; no matter how large the differences among us who seek to change the world may be, they are not greater than the differences with the opponents we must overcome."

He added, "I hope you reflect once more on the reason why 'Songahyeok' (Finger Revolution Army, an online supporter group of President Lee in the past) was disbanded," stressing, "I am a president of unity who must serve all citizens, and a president of reform who must gather everyone's strength to realize the dream we share."

He concluded, "You are the friends of the president who will join hands to achieve that president's goals," adding, "We are no longer presidential candidates who must fight and win, but the president who must already bear infinite responsibility for the nation."
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.