Ruling and opposition parties spar over Lee’s social media message

Apr 16, 2026, 09:00 am

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Foreign Minister Cho Hyun answers lawmakers’ questions during a parliamentary Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee meeting on April 15. / Lee Byung-hwa

Rival parties clashed sharply on April 15 during a parliamentary Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee session over President Lee Jae-myung’s social media post related to Israel.

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea defended the president, calling the criticism politically motivated, while the opposition People Power Party launched a strong attack, describing the post as a diplomatic misstep and an international embarrassment.

Ruling party lawmakers also pushed back against criticism from Israel’s Foreign Ministry, calling its response “rude.”

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said the government had explained the intent behind the president’s message to the Israeli side and that the situation had been resolved amicably.

Ruling Party Defends Message as Human Rights Emphasis

Members of the Democratic Party argued that the president’s message was justified and focused on universal values.

Rep. Cho Jung-sik criticized the opposition, saying its continued attacks were “politically motivated attempts to discredit the president while ignoring international realities.”

Rep. Kim Young-bae claimed the opposition’s arguments were based on “false narratives,” while Rep. Hong Ki-won said Israel had “misinterpreted” the message, particularly accusations that it downplayed the Holocaust.

Rep. Kim Jun-hyung of the Rebuilding Korea Party also criticized Israel’s response as “highly inappropriate and undiplomatic.”

Minister Cho emphasized, “The Foreign Ministry clearly understands the intent of the president’s SNS message. It was to stress universal human rights, particularly the importance of international humanitarian law,” adding that “there was no diplomatic conflict.”

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young also defended the post, saying, “The content, format, and timing were all appropriate,” and that it reflected both principles and national interests.

Opposition Calls It Diplomatic Blunder

The People Power Party, however, defined the post as a diplomatic failure and called for stricter verification before publishing such messages.

Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon said, “It is clear the president was misled by fake news. If that is the case, an apology would be the proper diplomatic response.” He added that the post came at a sensitive time when the United States and Iran were negotiating a ceasefire.

Rep. Kim Tae-ho stressed the need to institutionalize a system ensuring sufficient review and consultation before posting on social media.

The dispute highlights deep political divisions over the role of presidential communication and diplomacy in the digital age.

#Lee Jae-myung #SNS controversy #South Korea politics #Israel #foreign policy