President Lee Jae-myung Expands Channels for Communicating with the Public Through Social Media
On the evening of September 30, President Lee Jae-myung wrote on X (the short-form social media platform) that "social media is a direct channel of communication between me and the people," signaling his intent to fully launch direct communication with the public through social media. He stated, "Going forward, whether through press conferences, debates, site visits, Roosevelt-style fireside chats, or YouTube livestreams, I will draw ever closer to the people, empathize, and communicate."
The president's social media posting activity has noticeably increased recently. After scaling back his posts amid controversies over his alleged interference in the party convention and inadequate vetting of cabinet nominees, he has been posting several times a day—eight posts on September 29 and nine on September 30. Late on the 30th and into the early hours of October 1, he repeatedly posted his views on Kim Ji-yong, the nominee to be the first head of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials. On September 27, the president wrote on X, "Let us respond with confidence to lies, abusive rhetoric, and slander," appealing for participation from his supporters. On October 1, in a post introducing a citizen-participation online archive, he used the term "jwaahage"—a play on the Korean word for "gracefully" (uhahage), replacing the character for "right" with "left." The expression is commonly used in online communities sympathetic to the president.
This push for greater communication coincides with a period of declining approval ratings. According to the National Barometer Survey (NBS) released on October 1, 50% of respondents rated the president's performance negatively, while 43% rated it positively.
Experts raised concerns about potential side effects of the president's direct communication. Kim Yoon-chul, a professor at Kyung Hee University's Humanities College, told The Hankyoreh, "His messages are extremely blunt and confrontational in tone, and this needs to be managed. The image of the president fighting on the front lines could further stoke conflict and place an even greater burden on the president himself." He added, "No matter how aggrieved, angry, or frustrated he may feel, 'strategic patience' is needed."
Political commentator Lee Jong-hoon said, "The more the president speaks, the more likely he is to make mistakes and become a target of controversy. If the president personally responds to every issue, senior Cheong Wa Dae officials and ministers will fall silent." Yoon Tae-gon, head of the political analysis team at The Moa, commented, "The president seems to be feeling isolated. Messages that appear aimed only at a limited base of supporters are not strategically wise."
