President Lee Warns Against 'Irresponsible Extremists' Misleading the Public Without Grounds

President Lee Jae-myung pointed out, "Agitation by irresponsible extremists, the so-called 'irresponsible extremist faction' (mu-geuk-pa), who mislead the public based on falsehoods or without the slightest basis, is spreading like a trend."

On the night of October 4, President Lee wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "Whether left or right, front or rear, we must guard against irresponsible extremism everywhere."

He continued, "Those in positions of authority who must bear responsibility should execute and take responsibility for results rather than merely making claims," criticizing that "radical claims that cannot be accounted for and groundless agitation often stem from selfishness to show off and monopolize the achievements of reform, rather than for the sake of the people and the nation."

He added, "In an era of post-truth, blind partisan confrontation has become routine, making 'our side versus their side' more important than the truth. As a result, jumping to conclusions, speculating, and agitating without even verifying basic facts sometimes appears to be a capability," but emphasized, "However, justice will ultimately prevail, leading to a society where reason operates based on facts."

President Lee did not specify what exactly 'irresponsible extremists' or 'radical claims' referred to.

However, in the context of his repeated emphasis on "pragmatic reform," some interpret this as being mindful of backlash from hardline supporters within the broader ruling coalition regarding the appointment of Kim Ji-yong as head of the Major Crimes Investigation Agency.

President Lee also continued promoting policies via social media.

Sharing an article on X reporting that the Ministry of Justice had confiscated the assets of pro-Japanese collaborator Kim Han-gyu, he stated, "Even if it means expanding personnel, budget, and organization, we will thoroughly reclaim assets acquired through pro-Japanese collaboration."

He added, "We must ensure that the saying, 'Collaborate with Japan and three generations live in wealth; fight for independence and three generations live in poverty,' is never heard again."

Sharing a post showing that South Korea's oil price inflation rate from January to September this year was the lowest among major global countries, he explained, "The fact that South Korea is able to manage oil prices at the world's lowest level is thanks to controlling the supply price and volume of refined petroleum products from refiners in accordance with the law, and the refiners complying well."

He continued, "I express my gratitude to the oil refineries and gas stations actively cooperating with government policies," adding, "In particular, I extend special thanks to the 'Good Gas Stations' that provide great help in stabilizing fuel prices. I ask the public to patronize them frequently."

(Photo: Cheong Wa Dae Press Corps, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.