Presidential aide says Lee's direct communication will expand beyond social media

South Korean presidential communications chief Seong Gi-hong (성기홍) said on October 11 that President Lee Jae-myung's approach to communication was intended to narrow the distance between the president and the public. In a post on X, he described social media as one of several channels for reaching citizens and said direct communication would become more varied. He said the objective was to lower the barriers between government affairs and the public, rather than simply pursue social media politics. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]

Seong said citizens should be able to learn the president's thoughts directly, without another person's interpretation or editing. He listed press conferences, media interviews, public dialogues, town hall meetings and conversations with people affected by policy as other forms of presidential communication. Some exchanges require lengthy explanations, while others need short and prompt messages, he said. The priority, according to Seong, is to expand communication to where citizens are rather than remain on a single platform. He also recalled social media's role in Lee's communication during his periods as Seongnam mayor and Gyeonggi governor. [ 1 , 2 ]

The aide said Lee had expressed a wish to communicate more actively and directly with citizens on the flight back to Seoul after a state visit to Mexico. Korea Economic Daily said the visit took place the previous month and reported Seong's account of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's direct public communication through live press conferences and regional visits. Lee himself said on October 10 that he would maintain social media exchanges and visits to backstreet communities with minimal security, despite criticism that they lacked dignity or authority. He said the president was the public's foremost servant. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]