Lee rebuffs claims that live-streamed Cabinet meetings silence ministers

President Lee Jae Myung said Sunday that he finds it difficult to understand why some are pressuring the government to stop partially broadcasting Cabinet meetings — going so far as to spread what he called a lie that ministers cannot speak freely because the sessions are open to the public.

The remarks mark Lee's second pushback in days against a growing controversy over the alleged drawbacks of live-streaming Cabinet meetings. On Friday, he wrote on his X account that he could not agree with calls to make all Cabinet meetings closed-door, and expressed "deep regret" over what he called false claims that the broadcasts were silencing ministers. On Sunday, he again took to X, sharing a YouTube video that rebutted arguments against the live-streaming format.

The video highlighted instances in which Lee had immediately accepted counterarguments from ministers during actual Cabinet sessions — directly challenging the claim that ministers and other officials feel inhibited from speaking candidly when the meetings are broadcast.

"Anyone who has watched an open Cabinet meeting knows this," Lee wrote. "Not only Cabinet ministers, but agency heads, commission chairs and even local government leaders all say what they have to say." He added that he had deliberately expanded the number of participants to broaden policy communication and hear a wider range of views.

Lee also said that a closed-door session follows every Cabinet meeting without exception. "I have always enjoyed debate, and I particularly respect those who voice dissenting opinions," he wrote. "I keep emphasizing that a 'red team' function within an organization must work well to prevent problems and accidents."

The string of messages appears to be Lee's direct response to a recent report that more than 10 Cabinet ministers had collectively asked Prime Minister Han Seong-sook to convey to the president their view that the scope of live broadcasting should be scaled back. One participant was said to have indicated that it is difficult to challenge the president's remarks during a live broadcast.