Politics · South Korea · 7 hrs ago
South Korea's president defends frequent overseas trips
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung defended his overseas trips after opposition politicians criticized how often he travels abroad.
One lawmaker said Lee had visited 23 countries on 14 trips while people at home faced hardship.
Lee said official trips involve long flights, extensive preparation and packed work schedules, not sightseeing or shopping.
He also said the work can be physically demanding, describing receiving IV drips and getting nosebleeds.
Lee argued that the trips serve South Korea's diplomacy, while his national security chief said the country's rising international standing brings more invitations.
The dispute centers on whether the trips are too frequent as domestic concerns remain.
Lee also said he was pursuing a difficult path toward normalizing asset markets, but gave no details of next steps.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung defended his frequent overseas trips after opposition criticism.
Lee said the trips involve intensive preparation, long flights and packed official schedules, not tourism.
He said the trips can be so demanding that he receives intravenous fluids and gets nosebleeds.
Opposition lawmaker Kim Seung-soo said Lee had already made 14 trips to 23 countries while people’s livelihoods were worsening.
National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said the criticism was unfair, citing South Korea’s international standing and requests from other countries.
- Who
- South Korean President Lee Jae-myung responded to criticism from opposition politicians.
- What
- He defended his overseas trips, saying they involve demanding official work rather than tourism.
- When
- October 31, 2026.
- Where
- Lee posted his response on X. The criticism was raised in South Korea’s National Assembly.
- Why
- Opposition lawmakers criticized the number of trips while saying people’s livelihoods were worsening.
President Lee and National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac
Opposition critics
Number and purpose of trips
President Lee and National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac
Lee said overseas trips involve intensive preparation and packed official schedules, not tourism.
Opposition critics
Kim Seung-soo said Lee had made 14 trips to 23 countries while people’s livelihoods were worsening.
Fairness of criticism
President Lee and National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac
Wi said it was unfair to object that the trips were too frequent or that the first lady accompanied him, citing South Korea’s international standing and requests from other countries.
Opposition critics
Opposition lawmakers criticized the frequency of the trips.
Kim Seung-soo criticized Lee’s overseas trips during a National Assembly audit.
National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said criticism of the number of trips and the first lady’s attendance was unfair.
Lee defended his overseas trips in posts on X.
- Trips cited by opposition
- 14 trips to 23 countries
- President
- Lee Jae-myung
- Opposition lawmaker
- Kim Seung-soo
- Response platform
- X
- Statement date
- October 31, 2026
5 sources
What people are saying
Even overseas trips with intensive preparation, long flights, packed official schedules and such a heavy workload that I often receive intravenous fluids and get nosebleeds can look like a vacation to people who think a presidential overseas trip means leisurely drinking, shopping and sightseeing.
It is not fair to raise the issue that there are particularly too many trips or ask why the first lady goes.
People’s livelihoods are collapsing, yet the president has already made 14 trips to 23 countries.