Lee Urges Core Pro-Lee Supporters to Show Restraint: "Hate and Mockery Put the President in Jeopardy"

Expresses Regret Over SNS Quoting Controversy... Deletes Post After Backlash
"You Are Lee Jaemyung and the President"
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Calls for Broadening Support Beyond Core Base
"Abandon

President Lee Jae-myung has made a public request for his staunch pro-Lee supporters to refrain from the use of abusive language, derogatory terms, and hate speech. While emphasizing that those who support him are “friends of the president” and driving forces behind reforms, he warned that harsh words and actions could actually reduce the ranks of allies and create a political burden for the president. His appeal is for supporters to grow beyond being merely “supporters of a candidate” for an election victory and to become “supporters of the president” who broaden the scope of unity and reform.

President Lee Jae-myung is answering questions from the press at a press conference held on the 18th at the Blue House's Reception Hall. 2026.9.18 Yonhap News Agency

On the night of the 19th, President Lee posted a lengthy message on X (formerly Twitter) titled “Friend of the President,” opening with, “The controversy triggered by my citation of an X friend’s post yesterday is disappointing and regrettable in many ways. If anyone was hurt by other posts made by the author I cited, I offer my regrets.” President Lee went on to explain, “It is impossible to check all past posts and expressions used by someone when citing a message on Twitter,” and added, “Quoting an anonymous post only refers to the post’s content itself, and it does not mean I endorse, defend, agree with, or sympathize with all arguments or writings by the author.”

Previously, following a press conference on the 18th, President Lee quoted an X post by a supporter summarizing his reform achievements and wrote, “Thank you. It gives me great comfort.” Afterwards, it was revealed that the author of the post had previously used derogatory terms targeting former President Moon Jae-in and others such as Cho Kuk, Kim Eo-jun, Jung Cheong-rae, and Yoo Si-min, sparking controversy among supporters of the ruling bloc. President Lee subsequently deleted the quoted post.

He continued his appeal to his supporters. President Lee said, “I ask that you think and act as if you are Lee Jae-myung himself, as if you are the president,” and cited the saying, “You can tell a lot about a person by their friends.” He went on, “If someone the president is seen conversing with is known for habitual abusive language, derogatory remarks, or sarcasm, how would the public view that president?” By stating this, he pointed out that the speech and behavior of supporters do not remain personal; they can lead directly to assessments of the president and the government’s management.

He also recalled his experience during the National Assembly election in Gyeyang-gu, Incheon. President Lee cited those who, claiming to be “Lee Jae-myung supporters,” verbally abused and acted violently toward voters on the streets as the most damaging negative factor at the time. He stressed, “In the end, judgment is passed by the majority of citizens who have no personal stake.” He specifically pointed out, “The coarse behavior of a president’s friends does not broaden support and empathy; instead, it provides fodder for hate-driven agitation and becomes a reason and justification for criticism aimed at the president.”

President Lee further stated, “It is not healthy debate or rational criticism but abusive language, sarcasm, derogatory terms, and hate that amplify conflict and hostility, reducing allies and increasing enemies. Ultimately, this does not help reform and unity; on the contrary, it raises further obstacles.” He also said, “All of them are citizens of the Republic of Korea, and eventually, they are people we must persuade and walk together with. However great the differences among those intent on changing the world, these are never greater than the differences with those who stand in opposition we must overcome.”

He even referred directly to the time he disbanded the “Finger Revolutionaries” (Son-Ga-Hyeok), an aggressive online supporter group. President Lee said, “I hope you will recall why I decided to disband the Finger Revolutionaries.” This reiterated his belief that aggressive behavior within the supporter base, if it hinders the expansion of support, does more political harm than good.

Addressing his supporters, President Lee stated, “As the unifying president who must serve all the people and as the reform-minded president who must work together to realize the dreams of all those who aspire for a better world, I ask you to abandon hate, sarcasm, and emotional criticism even now, and instead engage in rational criticism based on facts and affection, dignified persuasion, and warm appeals.” He concluded, “We are no longer a presidential candidate who has to fight and win; we are the president who must now bear infinite responsibility for the world.”

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