After Criticism That "His Approval Rating Will Hit 20%," President Lee Directly Rebuts: "Quoting a Post Does Not Mean Endorsing the Author's Past Views"

[Financial News] Amid escalating mutual attacks among ruling-camp supporters online, President Lee Jae Myung directly pushed back against the controversy surrounding his quoting of social media posts, saying, "Quoting someone's post does not mean endorsing all of their past claims."
On the 28th, President Lee quoted a post by netizen A, who had shared an article saying that raising the threshold for electric-bus subsidies had increased the share of locally made buses. He wrote, "It is long overdue, but it is a measure that should have been taken."
In response, netizen B criticized Lee's quote, targeting the fact that netizen A frequently posted criticism of writer Rhyu Si-min, broadcaster Kim Ou-joon and other figures broadly aligned with the ruling camp. B wrote, "If you invest just one minute, you could probably determine at least the views of the person whose post is being quoted, but since you don't, it seems you're headed for a 20% approval rating." The criticism was that by quoting a post associated with a particular political tendency, Lee might effectively be taking one side within his support base and lending it weight.
Lee then quoted netizen B's post in turn and retorted, "My talking with someone does not mean I agree with all of their past conduct and remarks, and quoting your post does not mean I agree with all of your posts."
He went on to stress, "I do not have the time, nor is there any need, to investigate every past post written by the author of a post I quote," adding, "We are simply communicating and engaging in dialogue." He once again made clear that quoting a post on social media should not be interpreted as support for or advocacy of a particular group.
Lee's latest message is seen as an attempt to again defuse the controversy over "derogatory-name politics" that has recently erupted among his supporters. Previously, on the 19th, President Lee quoted a supporter's post containing the derogatory nickname "Mun-Jo-teol-lae-yu," aimed at former President Moon Jae-in and ruling-camp figures Cho Kuk, Kim Ou-joon, Jung Cheong-rae and Rhyu Si-min. He deleted the post after controversy erupted, saying, "It does not help unity." At the time, Lee also explained, "Quoting an anonymous post means quoting the content expressed in the post itself; it does not mean endorsing all of the author's claims." 

[email protected] Park Ji-hyun Reporter