One Day After His Appeal, President Lee Jae-myung Steps Forward to Explain Himself
Just one day after asking his supporters to refrain from using derogatory labels, President Lee Jae-myung personally stepped in to put out a fire on social media.
On the 19th, the president posted on his social media, urging supporters to "abandon insults, hatred, sneering, and emotional attacks, and persuade with dignity," saying such attitudes were, in fact, obstacles to reform. But when controversy grew that same day over his quoting of a post from an X (Twitter) friend, he came forward to clarify. The president drew a line, saying, "I regret if anyone was hurt," and that he "does not agree with all of the author's claims."
The Significance of an Explanation That Followed Just One Day Later
The key point is that the president's appeal and his explanation came just one day apart. Earlier, he had made remarks to the effect of "we are all together" (solidarity and cooperation) at a press conference, and then posted on social media based on that message. It is read as evidence that he himself recognizes the situation in which a message emphasizing unity and solidarity collides with the aggressive words and actions of some of his supporters.
Former lawmaker Rhyu Si-min's diagnosis points in the same direction. Pointing to the derogatory-label controversy involving fervent supporters, he said, "The pebble in the shoe is isolating this president." It is a criticism that supporters' excessive loyalty is, in fact, pushing away the political center and holding the president back. This is in line with the president's repeated references to "the level of the people's eyes."
Aftereffects Linger on the Political Landscape
The issue compounds the burden as it intertwines with the vetting controversy that has continued since the first cabinet reshuffle. In the second cabinet reshuffle of the Lee Jae-myung government, Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won became the second nominee after Yong Hye-in to withdraw within just 20 days, putting the personnel system itself under scrutiny. Although the president took a cautious stance on whether to appoint Kim, saying he had "not yet reached a final conclusion," the nominee ultimately stepped down, saying that "even a small burden must not be added," and the early days of the administration have seen mounting losses of trust.
If the controversy over supporters' behavior is added to this, the government will find itself pouring energy into wasteful skirmishes rather than livelihood messages. This stands in contrast to the president's pledge at his press conference marking 472 days in office that livelihood was the highest goal of state affairs, alongside his proposal for a two-capital system of "Economy Seoul, Administration Sejong." The opposition, in turn, has seized the opportunity. People Power Party lawmaker Han Dong-hoon called Kim's withdrawal a "victory for the people," while Oh Se-hoon has shifted to a policy offensive, claiming that "real estate is the cause of the president's falling approval ratings."
Will Managing the Support Base Become a Condition for Reform?
The point to watch going forward is whether the president's appeal can actually change the culture of his support base. The president has stated that re-election through constitutional amendment is impossible and has firmly declared he has "no intention of seeking a second term." This statement, tied to the institutional constraint of a three-term limit, serves as grounds for attempting to rein in a politically burdensome support base. It reverses the usual political dynamic in which politicians with fewer term constraints must constantly curry favor with their supporters.
However, the gap between words and action remains a constant challenge. Voices that speak to supporters' emotions are also a driving force for electoral mobilization. What remains is striking a balance so that the appeal to refrain from insults and hatred does not dampen supporters' morale. Whether the president's explanation proves a one-off improvisation or leads to a new relationship with his supporters is expected to become a variable in the government's conduct of state affairs going forward.
