President Lee Jae-myung has ordered an investigation into the circumstances of a media report that falsely claimed the Presidential Office had requested a ban on using his photos, it was learned Wednesday.
The directive came after the Democratic Party of Korea issued guidelines prohibiting the use of pre-inauguration photos and videos of President Lee during primary campaigns for the upcoming local elections. Some media reports had attributed this party guideline to a request from the Presidential Office.
The report in question quoted "a senior Presidential Office official" as saying that "the Presidential Office first conveyed to the party that images appearing to show President Lee intervening in elections in his capacity as president should not be circulated."
Cho Seung-rae, secretary-general of the Democratic Party, had notified candidates in the party's local election primaries through an official document on January 4 that "the use of videos and photos taken before President Lee's inauguration for promotional purposes is prohibited." In the document, Cho stated that "even pre-inauguration footage could lead to suspicions of presidential interference in party affairs and has significant potential to trigger controversy over violations of the president's political neutrality."
The report has since been deleted from online platforms.
The Presidential Office flatly denied the media reports interpreting the directive as coming from its request, stating they were "contrary to facts."
President Lee reportedly issued orders Wednesday morning in a Telegram group chat with senior aides at the secretary level and above to "conduct an internal audit to identify and discipline the senior official who made this statement, and to request a correction from the media outlet."
Presidential spokesperson Jeon Eun-su appeared on radio Wednesday and drew a clear line, saying "it is difficult to view this as a request from the Presidential Office" and that "this is a matter for the party to decide."
Kang Deuk-gu, a senior member of the Democratic Party's Supreme Council, wrote on Facebook that "the Presidential spokesperson announced that despite President Lee not personally directing the guideline prohibiting use of pre-inauguration photos, it was distortedly conveyed as if it were the president's intention," adding that "the person who conveyed this must be found and severely disciplined."
A Presidential Office official explained that President Lee appears to have taken this action because he felt concerned about statements contrary to his intentions being reported through the media. However, less than half a day after President Lee's Telegram directive, the details of his audit and disciplinary orders were again reported in the media, raising the possibility that he may take additional action citing lax discipline among his staff.