Seoul:President Lee Jae Myung has renewed his call for a review of South Korea's multicultural family support programs, emphasizing that any preferential policy resulting in reverse discrimination cannot be justified.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee made these comments on social media following criticism of his suggestion to revise support programs for multicultural families. These programs currently include priority access to low-cost public postpartum care centers.
In a previous post on his X account, Lee questioned whether mothers from multicultural families should be grouped with mothers recognized as persons of national merit for reservations at government-funded postpartum care centers. His comments, referencing a conservative online community post, have drawn backlash from the liberal bloc, raising concerns about inciting societal hatred.
Lee acknowledged the necessity of support for multicultural families but stressed that it should not justify unreasonable policies that could lead to reverse discrimination. He highlighted that while general assertions may seem just, not every detail within them is correct.
He further noted the importance of addressing the resentment some people feel toward political correctness or double standards. Lee advocated for public engagement and serious debate on sensitive issues rather than avoiding them due to controversy fears or allowing leaders to make decisions behind closed doors.
Defending an issue purely based on advocacy, Lee warned, could exacerbate the problem rather than resolve it.