South Korean President Lee sparks controversy with SNS remarks

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has ignited a political dispute following his social media comments regarding criticisms of his frequent overseas trips. Responding to opposition claims that his 14 visits to 23 countries since taking office are excessive, Lee posted on X that "people only see what they know," adding that "in the eyes of a Buddha, only Buddhas are seen, and in the eyes of a pig, only pigs are seen."

The People Power Party condemned the remark, with leadership questioning if the President views all criticizing citizens as "pigs." They further challenged the necessity of his recent itineraries, including attendance at a film summit in France and a K-pop event in Mexico, suggesting these were not essential diplomatic duties.

In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism defended the trips. They argued that the President’s activities, such as the Lumiere Summit and public diplomacy efforts in Mexico, were significant for promoting South Korean cultural influence and international standing. The Blue House also maintained that frequent multilateral diplomacy and the presence of the First Lady are standard international practices.