On June 3, he posted on X (formerly Twitter), asserting that the phrase, "The result of abandoning politics is being ruled by the most despicable people," cannot be construed as a campaign strategy favoring any particular candidate or party.
On the day of the local elections, President Lee issued two messages encouraging voter participation. His third post directly countered allegations from opposition parties, including the People Power Party, regarding violations of election neutrality.
He emphasized, "Advice such as 'live well' and 'do not associate with bad people' cannot be seen as divisive or defamatory."
President Lee added, "Unless one considers themselves a bad person, there is no reason to be offended by this statement about democracy. Even a thief would not outwardly express anger at the notion that stealing is wrong."
He pointed out that if anyone believes that emphasizing the fundamental principles of democracy and encouraging election participation violates election neutrality, they should consult their mother or elementary school teacher to discuss whether their moral and democratic judgment standards are appropriate.
He asserted, "In a democratic republic, the standards for political judgment should be common sense and the people. Politics should not be about disparaging others or seeking accidental benefits from failures, but rather about healthy competition to do well."
President Lee compared his messages to those of former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, stating that no one disputes their calls for voter participation because they are correct.
He reiterated, "Do not neglect your vote for the future of yourself and your family. Let us vote to find capable and loyal workers."
Earlier that morning, he had asked on X, "Did you vote to avoid being ruled by the worst of the worst, as Plato said?" This was a reiteration of his previous reference to Plato's statement about the consequences of political apathy.
On May 31, President Lee remarked, "In a democratic republic, the silence and neglect of the sovereign gives opportunities to those who deceive the public and abuse power for personal gain, ruining the lives of individuals and families."
He later wrote on X, "Now, South Korea must move from a catching-up nation to an indispensable core nation with the great power of the Korean people. We can go as far as we want and are already on our way, as long as we do not neglect our votes and choose capable and loyal workers."
President Lee shared an article stating that the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission awarded a record 2 billion won to a whistleblower in a corruption case.
He explained, "Whether an individual, corporation, or government, reporting corruption will yield a reward of 20-30% of the recovered amount. For example, if a company colludes to sell at inflated prices, the reward could be hundreds of millions or billions of won."
He added, "The fines for collusion in flour and other products amount to about 700 billion won, so if employees of the relevant companies (including those directly involved in the collusion) had reported it, they could have received up to 200 billion won in rewards."
President Lee concluded, "In the future, it will be impossible to profit from illegal activities that harm others. Of course, it is fundamental to create opportunities for honest and capable individuals under fair and transparent rules."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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