Lee: "A small number doesn't justify unfairness... Criticism of 'priority for multicultural families' merits review"

Amid criticism over low use of public postpartum care centers by multicultural families,
President Lee reiterates: "Fairness is a core value of public administration"

On the 30th, President Lee Jaemyung said of preferential policies for multicultural families, "Fairness is a core value of state administration, and it has nothing to do with whether the numbers are large or small. Something is not allowed to be unfair just because it involves a small amount or a small number."

President Lee made the remarks after sharing on X (formerly Twitter) a report that there are around 10 mothers from multicultural families at Seoul's public postpartum care center. He had said he would review the preferential treatment given to multicultural families at public postpartum care centers. The report said the utilization rate was in the single digits, making it difficult to view the policy as reverse discrimination.

President Lee Jaemyung speaks at the second plenary meeting of the National Life and Safety Commission at the Blue House on Oct. 28, 2026. Yonhap News

President Lee explained, "Support for multicultural families aims to achieve equality with Korean families by addressing and correcting discriminatory factors arising from the distinct characteristics of multicultural families. Support for cultural adaptation, bilingualism, and participation in local communities is essential because it addresses vulnerabilities stemming from these characteristics. Policies that identify and address other vulnerabilities should also continue to be expanded and strengthened."

President Lee said, "However, it is reasonable to consider and review concerns about preferential treatment for which it is difficult to find justification for consistently giving multicultural families priority over Korean families, such as priority placement in public daycare centers or postpartum care centers. We also need to verify whether the claim that multicultural families should be prioritized or given preferential treatment in welfare and social policies because they are all struggling is actually supported by the facts."

He stressed, "Social and welfare policies are, by their nature, a burden shared by the entire community, and some people inevitably suffer relative disadvantages as a result. Therefore, when formulating and implementing policies, we must carefully address gaps while ensuring that excesses or unfairness do not arise."

President Lee also said, "Not all members of multicultural families agree with treating all such families as vulnerable. It is more important for multicultural families to be integrated into our society than set apart from it. If they are all treated as inherently vulnerable, the emphasis itself falls on distinguishing them from others."

He added, "To defend and protect multicultural families from far-right incitement deliberately intended to provoke hatred and hostility toward them, we must also minimize pretexts for attacks and agitation. Any unreasonable or unfair factors, however small or large, as well as aspects that could spark controversy over excessive or unjust preferential treatment, could provide a pretext for far-right incitement and attacks against multicultural families."

Addressing claims such as "all support is justified because multicultural families are a minority," President Lee said, "On closer examination, such claims could expose multicultural families to rejection and attack rather than protect them. The sustainability of any social welfare policy is assured only when it remains within limits that those who are harmed or incur losses can accept after making a reasonable assessment."

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