Lee apologizes after sharing post by supporter who used derogatory terms for political allies

President Lee Jae Myung deleted a social media post and issued a formal apology Saturday after drawing backlash for sharing a supporter's post that contained derogatory terms targeting figures within and outside his political camp.

Lee urged his core supporters to stop using abusive language and demeaning nicknames, asking them to carry themselves with the dignity befitting partners in national governance.

In a lengthy post titled "The President's Friend" on X, formerly Twitter, Lee said Saturday night that the controversy sparked by his sharing of a supporter's post "is regrettable and unfortunate in many respects." He added, "If anyone was hurt by other posts written by the person I quoted, I express my regret."

The controversy began Friday, when Lee shared an X post by a supporter who had listed his reform achievements and left an encouraging message shortly after his nationally televised press conference at Cheong Wa Dae's Yeongbingwan. Lee wrote that he was "grateful" and that the message was "a great comfort." It later emerged that the same user had repeatedly used a derogatory portmanteau targeting former President Moon Jae-in, Cho Kuk, Kim Ou-joon, Jung Chung-rae and Yoo Si-min — all figures associated with the ruling camp. The revelation triggered sharp criticism from within Lee's own political circle, and he deleted the post.

In his defense, Lee said, "When quoting someone's post, it is not possible to check every past post and expression by that person," adding, "Quoting an anonymous post means quoting the expressed content itself — it does not mean endorsing or agreeing with all of that person's views and writings."

Lee then appealed directly to his core supporters to stop the combative behavior he said was causing internal divisions. "Please act as if you yourselves are Lee Jae Myung — as if you are the president," he said. "If someone the president smiles and speaks with habitually uses abusive language, demeaning nicknames and sneering attacks, how would that president appear in the eyes of the public?"

Recalling the backlash he faced over aggressive supporter conduct during a past by-election in Gyeyang, Lee said, "The rough conduct of the president's friends does not expand support — it becomes material for stoking hatred and a pretext for criticism." He added, "Fueling hostility through abusive language and sneering only shrinks our allies and grows our opponents, raising ever higher the obstacles to reform and unity."

He also invoked his decision to disband his former fan club, known as "Songahyeok" — short for "Finger Revolution Army" — as a reminder of the need for supporters to change their mindset.

"No matter how great the differences among us who seek to change the world, they are not greater than the differences we must overcome with those we are up against," Lee said. "We are no longer candidates who must fight and win — we are already a president who must take unlimited responsibility for the world. So please cast aside hatred and engage in rational criticism and dignified persuasion grounded in facts and affection."

At his press conference on Saturday, Lee also said, "All of us who act for a better world are friends of Moon, friends of Roh, friends of Kim Dae-jung, and comrades of Lee Jae Myung," urging solidarity and inclusiveness within his political camp.