President Lee: "Demanding High Posts Without Ability, Attacking From Within Under Pretext of Reform"

President Lee Jae-myung stated, "While pure radicalism may be a problem, it is even more problematic when people who lack ability demand high-level posts, attempt to manipulate personnel decisions and national policies to their own liking, and then—when things do not go their way—put forward radical reform as a noble cause while launching internal attacks."

President Lee made the remarks in a post on X on Friday (October 9), sharing a media column by former Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon that analyzed patterns of internal division surrounding the Democratic Party of Korea's national convention.

He also cited Cho's words: "Instead of striking comrades for the sake of the revolution, striking comrades itself becomes the revolution. When dedicating their hearts and bodies to sacrificial struggle, fighters were purity itself, but once the revolution becomes the system (power), perspectives of self-interest seep in, and the dynamics of personal politics and factional politics begin to operate."

President Lee's remarks are interpreted as targeting hardliners within his own bloc who have pushed back against government policies during the prosecutorial reform process.

Over the nomination of Kim Ji-yong to head the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, figures including Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae and Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Yong-min had publicly voiced opposition.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.