Politics · South Korea · 1 hr ago
Lee says social media and open cabinet meetings help him communicate
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung met reporters at the Blue House on October 19, marking 500 days in office.
He said social media helped him survive political pressure and called it a vital way to communicate directly with the public.
Lee urged other politicians to use social media to reach people.
Some critics say his posts can weaken the authority of the presidency.
He also said cabinet meetings should remain open to the public, despite concerns that live broadcasts could make officials reluctant to speak frankly.
Lee argued that public meetings help people understand government decisions and said a public cabinet meeting could have prevented martial law.
He plans to continue the live broadcasts and said he is trying to avoid giving critics grounds to attack his posts.
President Lee Jae-myung said social media helps him communicate directly with the public and has been important to his political survival.
He said he plans to continue livestreaming cabinet meetings, arguing that public access to government discussions has greater benefits.
Lee said open cabinet meetings could help prevent abuses of power, adding that a martial law declaration might not have happened if meetings had been public.
He responded to criticism that his social media posts could weaken the president’s authority by saying he was trying to avoid giving critics grounds for attack.
Lee made the remarks during a meeting with reporters at the Cheong Wa Dae press center on October 19.
- Who
- President Lee Jae-myung.
- What
- He defended his use of social media and public cabinet meetings as ways to communicate with the public.
- When
- October 19, 2026.
- Where
- The Cheong Wa Dae press center in Seoul.
- Why
- He said social media supports direct communication and that the benefits of making cabinet meetings public are greater than the drawbacks.
Critics of Lee’s communication approach
President Lee
Social media and presidential authority
Critics of Lee’s communication approach
Critics said some of Lee’s social media posts could weaken the president’s authority.
President Lee
Lee defended social media as a strength and said he was trying to avoid giving critics grounds for attack.
Public cabinet meetings
Critics of Lee’s communication approach
Some raised concerns that livestreaming could make it harder for officials to speak frankly.
President Lee
Lee said the benefits of public meetings were greater and rejected the argument that ministers could not speak up because they were being watched.
Lee reached 500 days in office.
Lee met reporters at the Cheong Wa Dae press center and discussed social media and livestreamed cabinet meetings.
- Meeting date
- October 19, 2026
- Time in office
- 500 days as of October 16
- Meeting location
- Cheong Wa Dae press center
- Duration of discussion
- About 90 minutes
5 sources
What people are saying
If there had been no social media, would there have been a President Lee Jae-myung?
Social media is my lifeline.
The advantages of openness are much greater.
If cabinet meetings had been public, would there have been martial law? It would not have happened.