Politics · South Korea · 17 hrs ago
Lee criticizes leaders he says fail to understand ordinary people’s hardship
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung wrote on social media that people who have enjoyed wealth and high office may struggle to understand ordinary citizens’ hardships.
He said political leaders should pay attention to people in the most difficult circumstances.
His comments came amid criticism of Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae over cuts to childcare funding and a 1.22 billion won apartment leased by the province as her official residence.
Choo has said the childcare budget changes reflected a funding shortfall inherited from the previous provincial administration and a separate national subsidy.
The province said the apartment was leased near its offices for work purposes and under the relevant rules.
Lee did not name Choo, but political observers interpreted his remarks as possibly directed at her.
The dispute comes as Choo has also publicly criticized Lee over his handling of a candidate for a national investigative agency post.
President Lee Jae-myung said people who have lived comfortably as powerful officials may struggle to understand ordinary people’s hardship.
He wrote that leaders who enjoy public-funded comforts while cutting welfare budgets may not understand people struggling to afford food and other necessities.
His remarks were interpreted by some in political circles as a possible criticism of Gyeonggi Province Governor Chu Mi-ae.
Chu has faced criticism over childcare budget reductions and a 1.22 billion-won lease for an official residence.
Chu said the childcare support changes reflected budget constraints and that she would not let financial difficulties disrupt childcare services.
- Who
- President Lee Jae-myung made the remarks. They were interpreted as possibly referring to Gyeonggi Province Governor Chu Mi-ae.
- What
- Lee criticized leaders he said could not understand ordinary people’s hardship and the effects of welfare budget cuts.
- When
- October 11, 2026.
- Where
- Lee posted his remarks on X. The article does not state where he was when he posted them.
- Why
- The remarks came amid controversy over childcare budget reductions and a costly official residence in Gyeonggi Province.
President Lee Jae-myung
Gyeonggi Province Governor Chu Mi-ae
Childcare budget
President Lee Jae-myung
Lee criticized officials who cut small welfare budgets and said they may not understand people’s hardship.
Gyeonggi Province Governor Chu Mi-ae
Chu said the changes were not arbitrary and reflected funding shortfalls and consideration of national support.
Official residence
President Lee Jae-myung
Lee criticized leaders who enjoy comforts funded by taxpayers while imposing hardship on ordinary people.
Gyeonggi Province Governor Chu Mi-ae
Gyeonggi Province said the residence was chosen for government work and contracted under relevant rules.
People who have lived comfortably thanks to their parents and as powerful officials all their lives may find it difficult to understand the hard lives and perspectives of ordinary people.
The essence of government, administration and politics is to keep looking at the backstreets where people live and care for those in the lowest and most difficult circumstances.
I will not let childcare services, the hope of the future, be shaken because of financial difficulties.
Gyeonggi Province signed a 1.22 billion-won lease for a 156-square-metre apartment near the provincial office to serve as an official residence.
Chu began living in the leased apartment.
Chu declared a fiscal emergency and proposed supplementary budget spending adjustments of 546.5 billion won.
Chu explained that childcare budget changes reflected funding limitations and said the province would not let childcare services be disrupted.
Lee posted his criticism on X.
- Official residence lease
- 1.22 billion won
- Apartment size
- 156 square metres
- Spending adjustments
- 546.5 billion won
- Childcare support rate
- Reduced from 12,600 won to 6,000 won per child
- National childcare support cited by Chu
- 1 million won per facility per month
Sources
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