Lee Junseok Directly Criticizes President Lee's "Women's Enemy Is Women" Remark: "Trying to Appease a Gender, His True Intentions Slip Out"

"Level of Gender Awareness of the President in 2025"
"Is YouTube and Online Communities the Philosophy of Governance?"

Lee Junseok, leader of the Reform New Party, delivered strong criticism of President Lee Jaemyung's recent remarks on gender issues, saying, "Mr. President, you need to stop browsing online community sites."

Lee Junseok, leader of the Reform New Party, criticized President Lee Jae-myung's remark that "it is understandable for women to dislike other women," saying, "This is the level of gender awareness of the president of South Korea in 2025."

On September 20, through his Facebook account, Lee stated, "President Lee Jaemyung's comments at a youth communication event are leaving people feeling disheartened," adding, "That one sentence, 'It is understandable for women to dislike other women.' This is the level of gender awareness of the president of South Korea in 2025," directly criticizing the president.

He further pointed out, "The fact that the president casually brings up the 'women's enemy is women' frame, which is typically seen on internet communities, at an official event is a disgrace to the nation," and continued, "What young people truly need is a serious consideration of the reality of not owning a single home and the employment cliff, not internet discourse."

Previously, on September 19, at the "2030 Youth Communication and Empathy Talk Concert" held in Mapo-gu, Seoul, President Lee stated, "I can understand if women dislike other women, but isn't it wrong for women to dislike men for no reason?" After this remark was reported in the media, Lee Junseok shared the article along with his own statement.

Lee especially took issue with the gap between the progressive camp's awareness of gender issues and their actual words and actions. He said, "The reason why progressive parties are so hypocritical on gender issues is that their minds and mouths are disconnected," adding, "Their minds are filled with outdated gender consciousness, but in an attempt to win favor with a particular gender, their true intentions sometimes slip out when they let their guard down."

He continued, "And furthermore, when people lose control not only of their words but also their actions, major incidents occur," adding, "What is even more absurd is the so-called 'civic groups' and 'fact-checking media' who pretend not to see this hypocrisy."

He also argued that if a conservative politician had made the same remarks, there would have been a fierce backlash. Lee said, "If a conservative politician had made such a comment, there would have been 100 statements, 10 protest rallies, and 1,000 calls for resignation immediately," adding, "But when the Democratic Party president does it, people say, 'We need to consider the context,' or 'Let's not blur the essence,' and turn a blind eye."

He then rhetorically asked, "Why are the so-called fact-checking media, who always talk about gender sensitivity, silent now?"

Lee also expressed concern about the president's attitude, which is excessively influenced by online community discourse rather than policy. He said, "The internet discourse you read while scratching your leg in the presidential office was not what was needed," adding, "I hope you would govern the country with the Constitution in one hand and the people's hand in the other, but instead, you seem to be running the country with YouTube rumors in one hand and online community discourse in the other."

Lee also mentioned a case from the past presidential election when then-candidate Lee Jaemyung posted a verification photo on an online community with the message, "Hello, this is your gallery owner Lee Jaemyung." He said, "We should have realized it back then. It was inevitable that community discourse would become the philosophy of state affairs," adding, "We wanted a better president after seeing the previous president become a slave to YouTube and fall into conspiracy theories. But now, we have a president soaked in online community discourse."

In conclusion, Lee said, "Remember, you are not a 'gallery owner,' but the president of South Korea," adding, "We want a government that runs the country based on sound common sense, not one that is a slave to YouTube algorithms or a prisoner of online community nonsense."