Kim Min-seok, the Prime Minister of South Korea, has decided to suspend his Facebook activity and will communicate with the public through platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.
According to Yonhap News, on June 6, Kim announced on his X account that he had recently discovered unusual activity on his Facebook account, including numerous 'likes' that he did not authorize.
He stated, "I have confirmed the situation through various means, but there are limitations in identifying the cause. Therefore, I will temporarily suspend my Facebook activity and communicate through other platforms."
Kim's team believes that the Facebook account may have been accessed from multiple devices, leading to activities that he was unaware of.
The controversy began at the end of last month when pro-government YouTuber Kim Yong-man posted on Facebook, stating, "Remember that Jeong Cheong-rae, who cannot even protect the candidates he nominated, will have no future." This post drew attention after it was revealed that Kim Min-seok's account had 'liked' the post.
Given that Kim Min-seok and Jeong Cheong-rae, the leader of the Democratic Party, are seen as potential rivals for the party leadership, some interpreted the 'like' as a sign of support for criticism against Jeong. However, it has been clarified that the 'like' was not made by Kim Min-seok himself and has since been removed.
Meanwhile, speculation is growing in political circles that Kim Min-seok may resign from his position as Prime Minister after the local elections and run in the Democratic Party's national convention expected in August or September. If he enters the race for party leader, a competitive dynamic with Jeong is anticipated.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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