President Lee Challenges Media Coverage on Various Government Policies

President Lee has publicly challenged media coverage regarding his recent directives on agricultural land inspections and his comments on foreign labor, accusing news outlets of distorting his statements. In a series of social media posts on May 28, the president demanded corrections and apologies, arguing that the reporting reflects a return to a “distorted era” of journalism.

Dispute over nationwide agricultural land investigation

The controversy centers on government-led inspections of illegal land speculation. President Lee stated that while he initially ordered the investigation, the decision to expand the scope to a nationwide level was a recommendation from Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Mi-ryung. The president characterized his acknowledgement of the minister’s role as a gesture of praise, rather than an attempt to shift responsibility.

Following reports that framed the attribution as a transfer of accountability, Lee took to the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. He wrote that the investigation is a reform measure and that revealing the minister’s role in the proposal was intended to credit her for a “great suggestion.” He criticized media outlets for interpreting this as an act of passing the buck, questioning whether such reporting adheres to basic journalistic ethics.

Policy on direct procurement of AI and robotics

President Lee also addressed the government’s “pioneer purchasing” policy, which involves the state directly buying AI-powered robots and other unverified prototypes to foster the domestic high-tech industry. He argued that current journalistic and audit practices discourage civil servants from taking risks, leading them to favor only products with established, proven sales records.

He described this trend as “piecework-style” reporting that hinders national development. Lee stated that the government intends to move forward with the direct purchase of new technologies despite the risk of criticism. He publicly encouraged support for Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jeong-gwan, calling him “brave” for overseeing the initiative.

Correction request regarding foreign labor statements

The president’s criticism of the media extended to the coverage of his remarks at a Cabinet meeting regarding foreign workers. A media outlet reported that Lee addressed the issue of migrant worker remittances, stating that they do not contribute significantly to the national economy because wages are largely sent abroad.

Lee contended that the reporting distorted his meaning. He noted that his actual statement was that such labor is not “significantly” helpful compared to domestic labor, rather than “not helpful” at all. He characterized the media’s framing as a “comparative rhetorical” point and demanded that the outlet correct the headline and body text of the article to reflect his intended meaning.

President Lee addresses hardline party critics

Beyond his conflict with the media, President Lee addressed criticism from hardline members within his own political faction regarding his approach to prosecutorial reform. He shared a post from a user who questioned why the president had not apologized for previously labeling his critics as “irresponsible extremists.”

Lee responded by distinguishing between those who genuinely seek reform and those he claims use inflammatory rhetoric for personal gain. He argued that “all-or-nothing” agitation often undermines real reform efforts. The president invited those who feel targeted by his comments to reflect on their own political conduct, asserting that his administration remains committed to substantive change over performative conflict.