Seoul: What if political leaders are impatient with criticism of themselves or the policies their administration is pursuing? What if they take criticism personally and react emotionally?
According to Yonhap News Agency, there is little doubt that such reactions do not help political leaders. On the contrary, such attitudes undermine leadership. Unlike his predecessors, President Lee Jae Myung has actively pursued direct communication with the Korean public. He has made frequent use of television and livestreaming platforms to explain his administration's policy positions and governing philosophy.
His most recent press conference was on Jan. 20. It was his seventh since taking office in June last year, following his decisive victory in a snap election. He has met with journalists almost every month since his inauguration. Throughout these appearances, Lee has displayed a distinctive communication style. Rather than responding directly to questions, he tends to explain his position at length before outlining the rationale behind his administration's policy direction. As a result, his press conferences often run longer than those of his predecessors. His responses resemble lectures more than conventional question-and-answer exchanges.
More recently, social media has emerged as another preferred channel for Lee's direct communications with the public. Over the past weekend, he posted several comments on issues ranging from property taxes to the government's plan to impose penalty surcharges on companies found to have colluded to raise sugar and flour prices. Direct communication between political leaders and the public is a double-edged sword. When a leader possesses strong communication skills, social media can be an effective tool for winning public trust and support. However, significant risks accompany such openness. If a leader shares inaccurate information or reacts emotionally, it can seriously erode their credibility.
Despite its potential benefits, Lee's approach to direct communication has revealed notable shortcomings. He comes off as impatient with criticism of his administration's policies and closed-minded toward opposing viewpoints. On Sunday, Lee shared two news articles from Korean media outlets on social media. One covered how the World Health Organization (WHO) is encouraging governments to introduce taxes on processed foods and beverages that contain added sugars as part of efforts to combat obesity, diabetes and other metabolic diseases. The other article examined the financial burden faced by people who own two or more homes under the Lee administration's proposed tax measures.
Lee described the article on the WHO's support for a sugar tax as "meaningful," noting that it highlights international trends in governmental health interventions. He added that he hoped the article would spark a serious and rigorous debate about the government's plan to impose penalty surcharges on sugar companies that colluded to raise prices. His reaction to the property tax article, however, was far more antagonistic. Lee accused the author of defending real estate speculators while demonizing a government seeking to levy taxes on them. Such actions, he asserted, were typical of people who place their own interests above the well-being of the country.
Lee further revealed his intolerance with some viewpoints during the Jan. 20 press conference. Referring to criticism from an unnamed conservative media outlet that had faulted his administration for not taking a tougher stance toward North Korea, Lee responded sharply. "Do they want me to confront North Korea right away? I can do that," he said. "The problem is that if I react to the North like that, the entire nation will suffer the consequences. I wonder how such a piece was published." As president, he is expected to refrain from making such disrespectful remarks in a setting that is televised and livestreamed in real time. His comments were inappropriate.
Democracy rests on respect for diversity of opinion. In a free and democratic society, differing views are to be engaged and debated, not dismissed or ridiculed. Disagreement should not become a pretext for personal attacks. Criticism can be uncomfortable, even bitter. But a president is expected to endure it, respond with reason and persuade opponents rather than attack them in public.