President Lee pushes policy debate through social media

Feb 02, 2026, 07:59 am

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President Lee Jae-myung speaks during the “K-Startups Create the Future” strategy meeting on the era of national entrepreneurship at the presidential office on Jan. 30.

Lee Jae-myung continued to actively use social media over the weekend to respond to criticism on key policy issues, pushing back strongly against media coverage on real estate taxes while highlighting international discussions on a proposed sugar tax.

As Lee has repeatedly emphasized his determination to end the temporary suspension of heavier capital gains taxes on owners of multiple homes, he took to X on Saturday to rebut critical media reports, calling their framing misleading.

Sharing an article that described the end of the tax grace period as a “bolt from the blue,” Lee wrote, “A bolt from the blue? If there is a problem to be raised, it should be about real estate speculation itself, or the unfairness of demanding further tax cuts after missing a four-year opportunity.”

He added, “Journalists themselves are unlikely to be speculative multi-home owners, nor could they be unaware of the basic fact that the heavier tax was deferred for four years and is now ending as originally planned.” Urging restraint, Lee said, “Even if ‘upright and principled reporting’ is difficult, at the very least please refrain from defending destructive speculation or engaging in unfair attacks on the government.”

Lee further wrote, “Rather than unfairly trying to corner the government by calling this a ‘bolt from the blue,’ I hope people will make good use of the tax relief opportunity society has already provided. There are still 100 days left.”

In contrast, Lee praised an article reporting that the World Health Organization has officially recommended the introduction of a sugar tax, calling it “meaningful” and emphasizing the importance of open debate.

“It is essential to ensure that opposing views can be expressed confidently in the public arena,” Lee said. “Articles like this, which introduce important facts, carry great significance.”

He added that issues such as sugar levies, real estate tax reform and institutional changes aimed at easing polarization are often subject to misunderstanding because of complex, intertwined interests. “The more difficult the issue, the more distortions and misconceptions arise,” Lee said, stressing the need for frank public discussion based on accurate logic, facts and real-world examples.

A presidential office official said Lee’s social media engagement is intended to underline policy consistency and determination, while also setting agendas and activating public debate, adding that it reflects an appeal for responsible journalism.

However, critics argue that using social media risks trivializing serious national issues. Rep. Park Seong-hoon of the People Power Party wrote on Facebook that the president’s posts reminded him of the character Um Seok-dae from Lee Mun-yeol’s novel Our Twisted Hero, criticizing what he described as an intimidating tone.

“Instead of pressuring the public through SNS,” Park wrote, “the president should order senior officials to dispose of their homes in Seoul’s Gangnam and Han River belt and start by ensuring that high-ranking officials with multiple homes sell their properties.”

#Lee Jae-myung #SNS politics #sugar tax #real estate tax #capital gains tax