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"
Recalls Incheon Gyeyang Election and Dissolution of Songahyeok
Calls for Broadening Support Beyond Core Base
"Abandon Hate and Engage in Dignified Persuasion"

President Lee Jae-myung made a public appeal to his most ardent supporters—known as "pro-Lee" factions—requesting that they refrain from using harsh language, derogatory nicknames, and hate speech. While acknowledging that these supporters are "the President’s friends" and a driving force for reform, he warned that aggressive rhetoric could ultimately reduce the ranks of allies and place a political burden on the President. Lee urged his supporters to move beyond the stance of "candidate’s backers" who rally for electoral victories, and become "supporters of the President" that broaden the base for 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 September 19, President Lee posted a lengthy statement on X (formerly Twitter), titled "The President’s Friends." "The controversy arising from my quoting an X friend’s post yesterday is, in many ways, regrettable and unfortunate. I express my regret to anyone who was hurt by other posts from that quoted author," he began. Lee continued, "When quoting someone’s post on Twitter, it’s not feasible to review every past statement and expression by the author. To cite an anonymous post means to quote the specific statement itself, and does not imply endorsement, support, agreement, or sympathy for all of the author’s opinions or every other post."

Previously, after concluding a press conference on September 18, President Lee quoted a supporter’s post on X that summarized his reform achievements, expressing gratitude and how much comfort it brought him. After it became known that the author of the post had previously used derogatory terms targeting former President Moon Jae-in and figures such as Cho Kuk, Kim Eo-jun, Jung Chung-rae, and Ryu Si-min, a controversy emerged even among ruling party supporters. In response, President Lee deleted the quoted post.

He continued his message to his supporters. "I hope you will think and act as though you are Lee Jae-myung yourself, as though you are the President," he said. "They say you can tell a lot about a person by looking at their friends," he added. "If the President is seen conversing with someone who is habitually abusive, mocking, or uses derogatory language, how would the public perceive that President?" Lee’s remarks directly called attention to how the conduct of his supporters could go beyond being seen as an individual matter and instead affect the evaluation of the President and government leadership.

He also recalled an experience from his campaign for National Assembly in Gyeyang-gu, Incheon. Lee cited those who, claiming to be "Lee Jae-myung supporters," swore at and harassed voters on the street as among the most damaging forms of negative campaigning at the time. "In the end, it is the majority of citizens with no vested interest who pass judgment," he emphasized. In particular, he pointed out, "The aggressive attitude of the President’s friends does not broaden support and empathy, but instead becomes fodder for hate-mongering and a reason and justification for criticism directed at the President."

President Lee went on to say, "Fostering conflict and hostility through abuse, mockery, derogatory language and hate—not through sound debate or rational criticism—reduces the ranks of allies and increases opponents. Ultimately, it does not help reform and unity, but rather raises new obstacles." He added, "All those people are citizens of Korea and, someday, they are those with whom we must persuade and walk together. No matter how large the differences among us who seek to change the world, they are not greater than the differences with those we must overcome."

He even touched on his own past decision to dissolve the "Finger Revolutionaries" (Son Ga-hyuk). "I hope you will reconsider the reasons why I dissolved Son Ga-hyuk," Lee said. His repeated emphasis suggests his belief that aggressive actions within his support base actually hinder, rather than help, political outreach and expansion.

Toward the end, Lee appealed to his base as follows: "As a President for unity who must serve all citizens, and as a President for reform who must realize the shared dreams of all those wishing for a better world, I ask you—even now—to abandon hate, scorn, and emotional criticism. Please engage in rational criticism based on facts and respect, dignified persuasion, and warm appeals." Concluding, he wrote, "We are no longer a candidate fighting to win, but a President who must now take on infinite responsibility for the world."

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