(C) VOI

SEOUL – President Lee Jae-myung underscored the severity of public opinion manipulation on Sunday, describing fake news and the rigging of online comments as critical threats to the democratic process.

In a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on January 18, President Lee revealed that he personally monitors online comments and shares public feedback with his cabinet members. "I occasionally read comments and pass them on to ministers," the President stated, sharing a post about a positive public reaction to the newly established Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA).

President Lee emphasized the importance of authentic public participation, saying, "If you want a country where the people are the rightful owners, the owners must voice their opinions."

However, he drew a firm line against illicit interference. "In that sense, public opinion rigging—such as fake news and the manipulation of comments or 'likes'—is a serious crime that destroys democracy," Lee wrote. He added that the police are currently conducting an investigation and that he is closely monitoring the results.

This follows his instructions during a cabinet meeting on December 30, where he categorized the manipulation of comment rankings as both an obstruction of business and a systemic threat to democracy, ordering a thorough inspection of the current situation.

Emphasis on "Merit and Punishment" In the same social media update, President Lee highlighted his commitment to a merit-based system within the civil service. He shared news of a police officer receiving a special performance bonus after the President himself praised the officer’s initiative.

Inspector Heo Jung-hoon of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency was awarded a 2-million-won bonus for identifying 10 instances where the East Sea was mislabeled as the "Sea of Japan" and Dokdo as "Liancourt Rocks" across 1,626 public institution websites.

"Reward and punishment must be clear," Lee noted. "Corruption among public officials leads to the ruin of a nation, but when officials are loyal and diligent, the people are happy."

According to Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, the President had specifically asked to find and reward the individual responsible for the report, even suggesting, "If there are strict procedures for official awards, then at least send some pizza from the Presidential Office."