President Lee Jae-myung deleted a post on X, formerly Twitter, that he had quoted from a supporter who previously used a derogatory term for opposition figures and members of his own political camp, saying the controversy "does not help unity."
In a post titled "The President's Friends," published late on the 19th, Lee said the dispute sparked by his quoting of a friend's post on X the previous day was "regrettable and unfortunate in many respects." He added, "If anyone has been hurt by other posts written by the author I quoted, I express my regret."
"When you quote someone's post on Twitter, you cannot check every past post and expression by the author," Lee said. "Quoting an anonymous post means quoting the words as written, not endorsing, defending, agreeing with or sympathizing with every claim and every post by its author."
The post Lee shared was written by a supporter who listed his reform achievements and offered a message of encouragement shortly after his news conference with the public at the former presidential compound on the 18th. Lee shared it with the comment, "Thank you. It is a great comfort."
Controversy soon erupted among supporters of the governing bloc after it emerged that the author had previously used a derogatory coinage combining the names of former President Moon Jae-in, Cho Kuk, Kim Eo-jun, Jung Chung-rae and Rhyu Si-min. Lee then deleted the quoted post.
"Nevertheless, if there are people hurt by other posts written by the author I quoted, I express my regret and would like to say a few words," Lee said. "Friends of the president, we are comrades who rely on one another and act together to achieve each of our dreams. Please think and act as if you yourselves are Lee Jae-myung and the president."
He urged supporters to change how they see their role, pointing to his earlier decision to disband his fan club, known as the Finger Revolution Army. "I hope we can think once more about why we disbanded the group," Lee said. "I am a president of unity who must serve all citizens, and a president of reform who must gather everyone's strength to realize a dream we share." He added, "You are the president's friends who will join hands to achieve that president's goals. We are no longer a presidential candidate who has to fight and win, but a president who already bears unlimited responsibility for the world."
At the news conference the previous day, Lee had also stressed solidarity and inclusion within his camp, saying, "All of us who act for a better world are pro-Moon, pro-Roh and pro-Kim Dae-jung, and comrades of Lee Jae-myung."
Cho Kuk, head of the Rebuilding Korea Party's reform policy institute, responded to Lee's expression of regret by saying he expected the president would be more careful about retweeting on X in the future. "Those who have been singing praises of Lee, turning comrades into enemies and wrecking the camp with their politics, and who created and fanned an ecosystem of hatred and loathing for their own political purposes, should heed the president's words," Cho said. "A considerable number of Democratic Party politicians who ignored, neglected or exploited this problem also need to reflect deeply."
