Lee urges voters to the polls, vows to make corruption unprofitable

President Lee Jae Myung urged citizens to vote Tuesday, the day of the 9th nationwide local elections, vowing to make it "impossible to profit in South Korea by breaking the law and harming others."

Lee shared a post on X, formerly Twitter, about the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission awarding 2 billion won ($1.32 million) to a whistleblower in a redevelopment project case, adding his call to vote. It was his second such appeal on X that morning alone.

"Whether it's an individual, a company or the government, reporting corruption will earn you a reward of 20 to 30 percent of the recovered amount," Lee said. "For example, reporting a corporate cartel formed to inflate prices could bring in hundreds of billions of won in reward money."

He added that ensuring fair and transparent rules so that diligent and capable people have opportunities is, of course, the foundation.

"Just as South Korea is transforming from a real estate speculation state into a premium financial nation, our great people must now carry this country beyond being a fast-follower, past a leading nation, and into an irreplaceable core nation," Lee said. "We can absolutely get there — and we are already on our way."

He attached one condition: "as long as we don't give up on voting and choose competent, dedicated public servants."

Earlier that morning, Lee had also invoked the philosopher Plato in a separate post, asking followers: "As Plato said, have you voted so you are not governed by the worst?"

He also shared a post by Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho announcing his arrival on X, writing: "Please give a massive follow and welcome Minister Jeong Seong-ho-tiger to X."