"Whether on the left or right, beware irresponsible agitation"—President Lee Jae Myung takes direct aim at hard-liners opposing the nominee for chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency

[Financial News]  President Lee Jae Myung launched a pointed criticism on the 4th, saying, "Whether on the left or right, we must beware irresponsible extremism," in a direct attack on so-called hard-liners on prosecution reform within the broader ruling camp. As opposition within the ruling camp continued over the nomination of Kim Ji-yong as the first chief of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, Lee appeared to confront the backlash head-on by labeling it "baseless agitation" and "selfishness."
That night, President Lee wrote on his X account, formerly known as Twitter, "As is happening around the world, the agitation of irresponsible extremists—so-called 'mugukpa'—who mislead and deceive the public based on lies or without even the slightest evidence is spreading like a trend in our society."
Lee said, "This is all the more true for those in positions where they wield authority and must bear responsibility." He added, "In many cases, irresponsible extreme claims and baseless agitation that cannot be backed up stem not from concern for the people and the nation, but from selfishness—the desire to draw attention to oneself and monopolize the fruits of reform."
He went on to warn, "In the post-truth era, blind partisan confrontation has become commonplace, and as loyalty to one's side matters more than the truth, making assertions, speculation and agitation without even checking basic facts can sometimes appear to be a sign of competence." Earlier that morning, Lee had also stressed, "Reform should be the goal, not a means of showcasing one's ideological clarity, attracting attention or attacking someone," adding that the process must not be used as an excuse to obstruct the creation of results.
Although President Lee did not explicitly identify a specific issue, the prevailing view in political circles is that his remarks targeted fierce opposition from hard-liners within the ruling camp to Kim Ji-yong, whose request for a confirmation hearing had been submitted to the National Assembly. The hard-liners are demanding that the nomination be withdrawn, arguing that Kim is unfit for the symbolic post of leading reform because he was formerly a "pro-Yoon (pro–Yoon Suk Yeol) prosecutor," among other reasons.
Choo Mi-ae, the Gyeonggi governor regarded as a hard-liner, publicly objected on Facebook the previous day, saying, "At a time when the prosecution forces that shook the constitutional order through an insurrection have not even been fully investigated, he is entirely unqualified to lead the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, which must overcome the insurrection." Kim Yong-min, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, also took a hard line, saying, "Kim is someone who has opposed prosecution reform." Park Joo-min has likewise announced that he will voice opposition to Kim's suitability during the confirmation hearing.
Even as internal rifts within the ruling camp widened, President Lee added, "But ultimately, things will return to their rightful course in a society where reason operates on the basis of facts," and continued, "That is because we have a resilient Korean people who, in the 80 years since liberation, have built one of the world's most exemplary democracies, a top-10 economic power and a global cultural powerhouse." Through the remarks, he made clear his unwavering determination to pursue reform.
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