President shares anecdote about late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon while criticizing online abuse

'Jwaagage' a playful wordplay, not a slur, Lee says

Urges public to embrace humor and levity

President Lee Jae Myung [Yonhap]
President Lee Jae Myung [Yonhap]

President Lee Jae Myung on Sunday criticized malicious comments and abusive language on social media, saying it is only natural to "show the door to a ruffian who barges into someone else's yard and hurls insults."

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Lee said, "Accounts that fling filth and disrupt the space for public discourse must be blocked — that is the only way to keep genuine dialogue alive."

Lee also shared an anecdote about the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon. "I think of the late Mayor Park Won-soon — the person who opened my eyes to the importance of communication and SNS as a tool for it," Lee wrote. "But one day, when we met at the Seoul mayoral residence, Mayor Park told me with regret that he could no longer read the comments on his own SNS."

Lee recalled telling Park at the time: "Flooding a space for communication with abuse, insults and mockery is not communication — it is obstruction of communication. Blocking that filth is what actually makes genuine communication possible. I block every account that spreads abuse, insults, mockery or false information the moment I see it, and in serious cases I report them as well."

Lee added that, to his knowledge, the late mayor subsequently blocked and removed malicious accounts from his own feeds.

He was careful to draw a distinction, however. "I do not block people simply for expressing disagreement or criticism," Lee said. "Opinions offered with dignity and courtesy — whether from the right or the left — are always welcome."

The remarks appeared to address criticism Lee received on Oct. 1 over his use of the term "jwaagage" — a play on the Korean word "uwahage" ("gracefully") in which the first syllable is swapped for "jwa," meaning "left," a term of endearment used within progressive circles. The usage had drawn rebukes as unbecoming of a president. Lee pushed back, saying "'Jwaagage' is not a term from the far-right online community Ilbe — it has been used in the democratic reform camp since the presidency of Moon Jae-in. It is simply wordplay that playfully twists the word 'uwahage.'"

Lee then urged the public to slow down. "The world is harsh and busy, but I hope you will occasionally take a moment to look up at a clear sky, glance around at your surroundings, and enjoy a bit of wit, humor and playfulness," he said.

He added that while "gravity, seriousness and authority are important virtues, I also guard against excessive solemnity — treating a drama series as if it were a documentary." He closed with a simple observation: "Autumn is a fine season for a stroll, breathing in the air."


sang@heraldcorp.com