President Lee Says, "Please Abandon Hate and Derogatory Nicknames"—Personally Moves to Defuse Controversy Over "Supporter Repost"

[Financial News] President Lee Jae Myung deleted a post and personally moved to defuse controversy after quoting a supporter’s post on his social media account, which sparked accusations of disparaging the ruling camp. Addressing his hardline supporters, President Lee urged them to "abandon hate and derogatory nicknames and engage in rational criticism and dignified persuasion," calling for restraint in the interests of reform and unity.

On the 19th, President Lee posted a message titled 'The President’s Friend' on X (formerly Twitter), stating, "The controversy that arose in various ways after I quoted a post from a friend on X yesterday is regrettable and unfortunate."
The previous day, after concluding a national press conference, President Lee shared a supporter’s post praising his reform achievements, including the consolidation and merger of public enterprises, the integration of KTX and SRT, the abolition of the Prosecutors’ Office, and a KOSPI Composite Index of 7,000. He replied, "Thank you. It is very comforting." However, controversy arose within the ruling camp after it became known that the post’s author had previously used the derogatory nickname "Munjo Teollaeyu" to disparage other supporters of the ruling camp. President Lee subsequently deleted the shared post.
President Lee said, "When quoting someone’s post, it is impossible to check every one of the author’s past posts and expressions," drawing a distinction by adding, "I quoted the post itself, but that does not mean I support, defend, endorse, or agree with all of the author’s claims and posts." He nevertheless added, "If people were hurt by the author’s other posts, I express my regret."

Calling his supporters 'the President’s friends,' President Lee issued a pointed rebuke of the exclusionary and harsh language used by his hardline supporters.
He asked rhetorically, "If the person with whom the president smiles and talks regularly uses verbal abuse, derogatory nicknames, and mockery, how would that president appear in the eyes of the public?" He then appealed to them, saying, "Please think and act as though you are Lee Jae Myung himself and the president."
He continued, "The harsh conduct of the president’s friends does not expand support and sympathy. In the end, it becomes material for inciting hatred against the president and grounds for criticism." He added, "Fostering conflict through verbal abuse and hatred rather than healthy debate only reduces allies and increases enemies, ultimately raising the barriers to reform and unity."
He also cited examples of harm during past elections. President Lee said, "The most damaging negative tactic during the National Assembly election in Gyeyang District, Incheon, came from thugs who wrote 'Lee Jae Myung supporter' on their bodies and verbally abused voters and caused disturbances," adding, "In the end, the judgment is made by the majority of citizens who have no stake in the matter."

President Lee recalled that he had personally disbanded Son Ga-hyeok (the Finger Revolution Army), once his hardline online support group, and once again emphasized unity beyond factional lines.
President Lee said, "It would be good to think once again about why I disbanded Son Ga-hyeok," emphasizing, "I am a president of unity who must serve all citizens, and a president of reform who must bring together everyone’s strength to realize our dreams."
He continued, "No matter how great the differences among us who seek to change the world may be, they are not greater than the differences between us and the opponents we must overcome. Even now, please abandon hatred and emotional condemnation and engage in dignified persuasion and warm appeals. I am no longer a presidential candidate who must fight to win; I am now a president who bears unlimited responsibility for the world," he repeatedly urged.

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