Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae stated regarding a recent social media post by President Lee Jae-myung referencing "high-ranking officials who lived in luxury," saying, "I do not believe the president was targeting me."

Governor Choo gave this response on October 13 during the National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee's audit of Gyeonggi Province, when People Power Party Representative Joo Ho-young asked, "Do you feel wronged by the president's attack?"

Governor Choo explained, "The president had a difficult boyhood, but I also had an unusual childhood," adding, "It was so difficult that my mother could not raise me herself and had to entrust me to foster care."

She emphasized, "I have never been ignorant of people's livelihoods, nor have I ever lived in luxury while causing harm to others."

When Representative Joo asked, "Can we take it that the president made a mistake in posting on social media?", Governor Choo answered, "No. I do not think it is about me," adding, "It is the media that is misunderstanding it that way. I live amidst countless misunderstandings. That is the fate of a politician."

Earlier, on October 11, President Lee Jae-myung wrote on X (formerly Twitter), pointing out, "Those who have lived their entire lives as high-ranking officials enjoying luxury without hardship thanks to their parents find it difficult to understand the exhausting lives and perceptions of ordinary citizens."

President Lee went on to mention "those who slash small welfare budgets for ordinary citizens without hesitation" and "power-holders who thoughtlessly wield swords," prompting interpretations in some political circles that he was indirectly targeting Governor Choo, who recently stirred controversy over cutting welfare budgets citing a fiscal crisis and leasing an expensive official residence.

(Photo: Yonhap News)