President Lee: "I Have Never Abandoned Reform... Extreme Agitation Must Be Avoided"

Progressive Camp Urged to Ensure Lee’s Reform Succeeds

President Lee Responds, “There Is Not a Single Incorrect Point”

Hopes for “A Democratic and Inclusive Growth Nation”

On September 12, President Lee Jae-myung stated, "I have never given up on the goals and values of reform, not even for a moment," while warning against the backlash against reform that can arise from extreme agitation.

On this day, President Lee quoted Park Taehoon, head of the Institute for Today’s Youth, on his X (formerly Twitter), in which Park asserted that “President Lee must be allowed to succeed in his reform efforts.” Park’s message noted that President Lee’s difficult past experiences are reflected in his determination for reform and argued that the progressive camp should support these efforts.

President Lee Jae-myung is seated after the national anthem at the Senior Presidential Secretary meeting held at the Blue House on September 11, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News

In response, President Lee said, "There is not a single error in what you have written," adding, "Whether it was the 25-year-old Lee Jae-myung who chose the path of a human rights lawyer over a judicial career and went into debt 36 years ago, or today's Lee Jae-myung in 2026, who is doing his utmost to steer Korea through various crises toward an irreplaceable nation of new hope—the dream of an egalitarian and harmonious society, a 'world where we live together,' has not changed."

President Lee further stated, "History provides many examples of unfortunate consequences—essentially counter-revolutions—that have occurred due to excessive fervor and haste in the pursuit of revolution, without the discipline of moderation." He stressed, "Reform must proceed delicately and with careful procedures, based on the broadest possible consensus, and must prove effective by minimizing pain and resistance." He continued, "We must also be vigilant against those who exploit the genuine revolutionary aspirations of some, resorting to extreme agitation to emphasize their own radical credentials. Such tactics ultimately provoke resistance and counter-mobilization, thereby hindering reform and inviting backlash."

President Lee added, "If nothing is done, then nothing changes." He explained, "In the process of positive change—that is, reform—those who lose out because of change experience significant suffering and resistance, while those who benefit show relatively little response or sympathy." He concluded, "I hope that everyone can move forward together toward a self-reliant, peaceful, and secure nation—a country that is democratic, fair, and achieves inclusive growth."

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