Moon Jae-in’s Books, Yoon Suk-yeol’s Alcohol, and Lee Jae-myung’s Social Media: Presidential Keywords

Moon Jae-in: "Books Made Me Who I Am"
Alcohol That Hastened Yoon Suk-yeol’s Downfall
Lee Jae-myung’s Main Messaging Channel: Social Media

Each president can be summed up by a keyword. These words symbolize the individual characteristics of each president while also revealing their decision-making style. For former President Moon Jae-in, the defining word is “book.” For former President Yoon Suk-yeol, it is “alcohol.” For President Lee Jae-myung, it would be “social networking service (SNS).” Just as there is night with day, strengths are accompanied by weaknesses. Consequently, the light and shadow of power change accordingly. Sometimes, these symbolic keywords become objects of praise, but if circumstances shift, they can also become subjects of criticism. This is why those in power must always keep in mind the saying “excess is as bad as deficiency.” Going to extremes inevitably leads to trouble. This is a lesson history repeatedly demonstrates.

Former President Moon Jae-in: Inseparable from 'Books'

Former President Moon Jae-in is inseparable from “books.” It is telling that he chose to work as a bookstore manager after leaving office. Pyeongsan Bookstore in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do, is now his sanctuary. In his book, “Moon Jae-in’s Copying Notes,” published on June 26, he writes: “Books made me who I am today. My values, outlook on life, sense of history, and worldview were all shaped by reading, which began when I was in middle school. All the common sense, sense of justice, morality, and principles I possess were also learned from books. Books truly nourished my mind. The power of books is what led us to democratization.”

Books are more static than dynamic. They are text, not images; they are meant to be contemplated, not blurted out. It is well known that Moon used to read after returning to his residence when he was president. Perhaps this is why he was regarded as preferring to read books rather than meet people. As a result, unlike former President Roh Moo-hyun, Moon was rarely seen holding dynamic, late-night discussions on current issues with his aides. In other words, Moon did not particularly enjoy face-to-face communication. This was his nature. Although he advocated for “communication,” ironically, communication itself became a problem for his presidency for this reason. An Minseok, when he was a lawmaker, once famously said, “I wish President Moon would stop reading books and meet people.”

Former President Moon Jae-in is handling cashier duties at his bookstore 'Pyeongsan Bookstore' in Habuk-myeon, Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do in April 2023. Photo by Yonhap News.

For Moon, books were spiritual nourishment, but they sometimes became a symbol of indecisiveness. On February 1, 2025, he posted on his SNS, “Politics that does not involve reading books leads a country to decline, causes division, and makes people's lives regress. Those engaged in politics must read profusely, and this is even more true for the president.” Immediately, some interpreted his words as an indirect criticism of former President Yoon, symbolized by “alcohol.” However, criticisms also arose, with some asking, “So you made Yoon Suk-yeol the Prosecutor-General and launched his political career because you read so many books?” “Bookstore manager” Moon may garner approval, but as soon as books intersect with real-world politics, they can become a boomerang—this is the double-edged nature of “Moon Jae-in’s Books.”

Former President Yoon Suk-yeol: A Relationship with 'Alcohol' Like Needle and Thread

Former President Yoon Suk-yeol cannot be discussed without mentioning alcohol. He truly embodies the “indomitable drinker” type. A former opposition lawmaker who previously served as a minister, also known for a strong tolerance, once remarked, “(Yoon) could drink anyone under the table.” He recalled how, even after downing dozens of soju bombs, Yoon remained unfazed, forcing others to “surrender.” One figure in politics who shared drinks with Yoon during his candidacy said, “I have never seen him split or sip a soju bomb—he always drinks it straight.” During his campaign, Yoon once remarked, “Because we have pork belly and soju, I can campaign happily.” In November 2023, just before the Expo host city decision, he stirred controversy by drinking with large corporate executives in France. The September 2025 issue of Monthly JoongAng cited a police executive who had worked at the presidential security service, stating, “A one-ton cargo truck loaded to the brim with soju and beer was delivered to the presidential office weekly.” Alcohol was inseparable from Yoon, as if needle and thread.

Former President Yoon Suk-yeol attended the first trial sentencing hearing for charges including obstruction of official duties, aiding and abetting a fugitive, and abuse of power to obstruct the exercise of rights, held on January 16 at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, where he sat in the defendant's seat.

Unlike books, alcohol is about expressing oneself, not reflecting. Drinking is rarely a solitary act; it usually involves company. Used appropriately, it can become a lubricant for smooth communication. The issue for Yoon was the frequency and volume of his drinking, coupled with a tendency to talk a lot. As a result, gatherings often became forums for Yoon to dominate rather than facilitate two-way communication. In a state of diminished self-control, conversations would drag on and unnecessary comments would fly, inevitably causing confusion in his messaging. These were moments when communication devolved into a need for clarification. In 2025, Yunkyoung Young, a member of the Democratic Party, appeared on the MBC radio program “Kim Jongbae’s Focus” and commented, “After a National Intelligence Service work report, he was so intoxicated from making rounds of soju at every table that he had to be carried out by his security detail.” Former lawmaker Lee Jae-oh also noted in a broadcast interview, “A president must also exercise restraint at drinking gatherings. He should only drink when meeting the opposition to discuss cooperation.”

Alcohol was one of the factors that hastened Yoon’s downfall. As a prosecutor, his indomitable drinking gave him the image of an affable and bold leader—a “boss.” However, as president, alcohol became a symbol of arrogance, self-indulgence, and laziness. His late arrivals at work after late-night drinking sessions became a source of controversy even during the impeachment process. Frequent drinking impaired his judgment and ultimately contributed to the imposition of emergency martial law. Alcohol was a factor in both his success and his ruin. One wonders if, even behind bars, he still thinks of drinking.

President Lee Jae-myung's Longstanding Love of SNS

The keyword for President Lee Jae-myung is SNS. On July 19, he posted to his SNS, “It is unfortunate that the Democratic Party's convention deposit has increased significantly and that young candidates, in particular, are struggling as their burden has multiplied. If possible, I hope we can consider returning to previous levels.” The president's SNS post sparked controversy over alleged interference in party affairs. The Blue House provided additional explanations, and the president also denied any such interference. This is only one example. Lee’s SNS has become more than just a communication channel; it is now a primary messaging tool for state affairs. On June 27, he posted on SNS five times in one day, emphasizing that “the Gwangju and Honam semiconductor project is a historic achievement.”

Because the president posts so frequently on SNS, it has now become routine for both the media and government officials to monitor his SNS until late at night. This is often necessary for understanding situations and responding as needed. According to an analysis by the Kyunghyang Shinmun, from his inauguration through May 16, 2026, Lee posted 625 times, and nearly half (49.1%) were posted after work hours or late at night. Of the total, 38.1% (238 posts) were uploaded between 6 pm and 11 pm, while 11% (69 posts) appeared during late-night and early morning hours (11 pm to 6 am).

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the ministry work report held at the Blue House's Yeongbingwan on the 15th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Lee’s fondness for SNS is nothing new. He frequently used SNS during his time as mayor of Seongnam and as governor of Gyeonggi Province. An acquaintance who has known him since his days as mayor recalled, “There weren’t just one or two instances when I would receive messages from him at dawn. It was impossible to tell when he actually slept.” Due to his frequent use of SNS, there were reports that aides once changed his password to prevent him from posting. Lee Gyuyoun, former Blue House Senior Secretary for Public Relations and Communications, explained in a joint media interview marking Lee’s first anniversary in office on May 26, 2026, “Globally, one common trait among popular leaders is their use of SNS. The messages are concise and clear, and they are explained in accessible language so people can easily understand.”

While there is a positive assessment that the president is providing direct explanations to the public, there are concerns that the power of his statements warrants careful management. Even if there are no legal issues, political consideration is needed regarding the issues at hand, the terminology used, and how messages may be perceived. Inadequate care could provoke unnecessary political debates, leading to explanations, rebuttals, and increased conflict. The results could diverge sharply from the president’s good intentions for direct communication.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.