"Direct Communication Is a Crucial Duty" Despite Ongoing Social Media Controversies

[Anchor]

South Korea's political arena has been embroiled in controversy day after day over social media posts made by President Lee Jae-myung. While the Blue House maintains that the public should focus on the context and core message of his remarks, President Lee made it clear that he has no intention of stopping, calling communication via social media an indispensable duty.

Reporter Han Sung-hee has the story.

[Reporter]

Early yesterday morning (October 29), the Blue House issued a statement regarding President Lee Jae-myung's social media posts.

This came as an effort to contain the fallout after President Lee stirred controversy with a post stating that preferential systems for multicultural families have become problematic and that his administration would review the necessity of abolishing them.

The Blue House explained that it was not a matter of eliminating support, but rather raising the need to reform it in a fair and reasonable manner.

However, the repercussions have not subsided.

[Roh Hye-ryeong / Progressive Party Spokesperson: Politics that seeks to win the support of the majority by excluding minorities does not broaden one's base, but merely undermines the values of democracy and human rights.]

The Rebuilding Korea Party also urged the president to apologize, criticizing his remarks as "a move that distorts support into an issue of discrimination and privilege," while a lawmaker from the Democratic Party also stated in a phone call with SBS that "an expression of regret by the president is necessary."

President Lee once again took to social media to explain himself directly.

He emphasized that correcting excesses in certain policies must not be mistaken for discrimination against multicultural families or an act inciting hatred.

Unlike the progressive parties that took a critical stance, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, which was cited as an example in President Lee's social media post, has initiated a full-scale review of the system.

[Oh Se-hoon / Seoul Mayor: While conducting a full-scale review (of the system), I instructed that it needs to be refined more elaborately so that concerns over relative disadvantages can be dispelled....]

At a dinner between the president and senior ruling party lawmakers two days ago, suggestions were reportedly made advising restraint in using social media, but President Lee made clear that he has no intention of stopping, saying, "Direct communication with the public on social media is a crucial duty that must not be abandoned."

(Video by Oh Young-choon and Kim Yong-woo | Video Editing by Oh Young-taek)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.