Lee warns against 'fanaticism,' urges public to reject blind loyalty and extremism

President Lee Jae Myung on Friday called on the public to guard against "blind faith, extremism and factionalism, regardless of left or right, past or present."

Lee made the remarks while reposting on X, formerly Twitter, a message from an internet user arguing that labeling someone a fascist simply for holding a different view is incompatible with democratic debate.

"If someone genuinely believes that everything their side says is right and everything the other side says is wrong, that is a serious condition," Lee said. "That is what is commonly called fanaticism."

Lee went on to say that normal debate is only possible when a claim is judged on its merits regardless of who makes it, adding that only then can argument lead toward facts and truth.