Lee praises police investigation into online disinformation at closed cabinet meeting; says overseas Koreans' top concern is voting rights

President Lee Jae Myung speaks at a cabinet meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae on Monday. [Yonhap]
President Lee Jae Myung speaks at a cabinet meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae on Monday. [Yonhap]

President Lee Jae Myung directed officials Monday to coordinate with the Ministry of National Defense on a report about a soldier identified as a suspect in a fake news case, saying the appropriate level of punishment and disciplinary action would differ depending on whether the individual was an enlisted soldier, a career soldier or an officer.

Cheong Wa Dae chief spokesperson Kang Yu-jung conveyed the results of the meeting in a written briefing.

Lee presided over the 24th Cabinet Meeting and 11th Emergency Economic Review Meeting at Cheong Wa Dae that morning, where he praised the Korean National Police Agency for its investigation into online comment activity related to the spread of false information.

Lee also mentioned rewarding the investigative unit and urged officials to pay close attention to disinformation that causes confusion around government policy, saying its harmful effects are significant.

During a review of emergency governance and response measures related to the Middle East war, Lee called for a review of personal bankruptcy and debt rehabilitation management, saying there must be no situation where people die because of debt.

After asking about the number of people sent to labor detention facilities for failing to pay fines, Lee referenced the "Jean Valjean Bank," a private lending program for those unable to pay fines, and directed officials to look into whether the government should support private fundraising efforts or provide direct financial assistance, Kang said.

Lee also praised the Overseas Koreans Agency for its achievements and said the top concern among overseas Koreans is the exercise of voting rights. Upon hearing that the National Assembly had yet to reach a conclusion on the matter, Lee said that in a democratic country, consensus should be sought and minority opinions respected. He added that if agreement proves impossible, the matter should be resolved by majority vote, and that if wrongdoing occurs, the public will hold those responsible accountable.

At the closed session, the cabinet deliberated and approved 40 bills for promulgation, one legislative bill, 20 presidential decree proposals and four general agenda items. Of these, 35 were related to the Lee administration's state policy agenda — among them a special act on promoting the AI data center industry, aimed at building an AI highway to help South Korea become one of the world's top three AI powers, and a law on fostering and supporting defense semiconductors, intended to propel the country into the ranks of the top four global defense industry nations through development of the Korean defense sector and procurement system reform.


moone@heraldcorp.com