President Lee Jae-myung stated that "each nation's sovereignty and universal human rights must be respected, and wars of aggression must be condemned," adding that "this is the spirit of our Constitution and international common sense."
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, Lee wrote, "Putting yourself in others' shoes applies not only to individuals but also to relations between nations. Others' lives and property are as precious as my own. You must respect others to be respected."
Although he did not specify a particular issue, the remarks appear to reference the diplomatic controversy that erupted after Lee shared a video showing Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers dropping a body on a battlefield. Lee had previously shared the two-year-old video with comments criticizing that "the comfort women issue we raise, the Holocaust, and wartime killings are no different."
In response, Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated the previous day that "President Lee's remarks are unacceptable and deserve strong condemnation." This marked an unusually strong diplomatic rebuke directed at the president of a friendly nation.
Lee posted additional comments on Israel's Foreign Ministry statement, expressing "disappointment that they do not take a moment to reflect on the criticism from people around the world who are suffering from their endless actions that violate human rights and international law."
Presidential spokesperson Jeon Eun-su also cautioned against overinterpretation, stating that Lee's remarks were "a message of peace and human rights urging us not to repeat tragic history."
However, political battles are intensifying. Kim Ki-hyeon, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, said "the president's reckless 'meddlesome SNS risk' is becoming an ever-growing problem." Yoon Sang-hyun, another PPP lawmaker, urged Lee to "stop emotional SNS politics." Han Dong-hoon, former leader of the People Power Party, attacked the president, saying "when those in power act recklessly in matters of national interest, the people suffer."
Lee fired back at such criticism from the opposition and some media outlets, stating, "Actions that harm national interests for personal gain are called treason." He added, "Such treasonous acts occur openly even in politics and media, where pursuing the public interest, including national interests, should be the mission," emphasizing that "this is ultimately a national challenge to overcome and a task of 'normalizing the abnormal.'"
The Presidential Office also dismissed the criticism, stating that Lee's message emphasized "the importance of empathy and that human rights are the most precious values." This reaffirmed that the president's remarks and video sharing were meant to highlight "universal human rights" rather than target any specific country.
Meanwhile, Lee drew attention by resharing an X post from Song Young-gil, former leader of the Democratic Party, who wrote that he "deeply sympathizes with the president's message" and that "the international community needs responsible restraint and a commitment to peace."
