South Korean opposition blasts President Lee over deleted social media post

April 14 (Asia Today) -- A senior South Korean opposition lawmaker on Monday criticized President Lee Jae-myung over his social media messaging, saying presidential posts on sensitive issues should be handled with greater caution.

Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the conservative People Power Party, accused Lee of acting impulsively on social media during a party strategy meeting at the National Assembly.

"This is not an account where someone can write something on impulse and then delete it at any time," Song said.

He said posts by South Korea's president are watched in real time around the world and can reflect the government's policy direction.

Song said messages involving diplomacy and national security should be carefully drafted and reviewed by experts before being posted.

He also accused Lee of posting false information about Israel on social media and said the episode had drawn criticism from a foreign government, calling it a major diplomatic setback.

Song also took aim at Chung Cheong-rae, leader of the Democratic Party, for praising Lee's post, calling the response "mindless flattery and sophistry."

At the same time, Song said he agreed with Lee's stated view that universal human rights should be respected and wars of aggression rejected.

But he added that Lee should also speak out to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un about the human rights of North Korean residents.

Song urged the government to move forward with appointing board members to the long-delayed North Korean Human Rights Foundation so the body could begin operating as soon as possible.

-- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260414010004144

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This story was originally published April 14, 2026 at 3:09 PM.