South Korea's President's Social Media Remarks Spark Israeli "Condemnation": Korean Media Says This Unfounded Outcry Has Caused Diplomatic Turmoil—It Should Be Calmed, Not Amplified

Lately, South Korean President Lee Jin-man posted a false video criticizing Israel, triggering a rebuttal from the Israeli government and escalating tensions between the two nations. On the 10th, President Lee shared a video on social media with the caption: "Israeli soldiers tortured Palestinian children and then threw them off rooftops," adding, "This is no different from the Holocaust against Jews." However, the video was actually two years old, and the claim of torturing children is entirely untrue. The Israeli Foreign Ministry stated: "President Lee’s remarks, made on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, constitute an affront to the memory of the Jewish genocide. We express strong condemnation and urge him to verify facts before posting."

It is contrary to diplomatic norms for a head of state to condemn a friendly nation based on false facts, and for a foreign ministry to respond with adversarial language such as "condemnation" toward another head of state. After such incidents, both countries should resolve the matter quietly through diplomatic channels—this would best serve their mutual interests. Yet in response to Israel’s rebuttal, President Lee retorted: "For a country that has caused suffering through human rights violations and breaches of international law, it should at least reflect once—even just once—on global criticism. This is deeply disappointing." Regarding opposition parties and media that criticized his statements, President Lee also declared: "Politics and media, which are supposed to serve the public good, are themselves engaging in acts of betrayal."

Israel’s excessive military actions and the resulting civilian casualties have already drawn widespread international criticism. If President Lee genuinely aims to emphasize universal human rights, he should carefully consider both the content and timing of his posts. Publicly referencing false information, especially involving the Holocaust, via social media when addressing a nation currently engulfed in war is utterly inappropriate.

In 2023, then-President Yoon Suk-yeol said: "Iran is the enemy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)," sparking outrage in Iran. At the time, Lee Jin-man was still the opposition leader, and he criticized this statement as: "A diplomatic disaster—lacking even basic judgment. How regrettable." He also claimed: "Merely making excuses cannot protect national interests; Yoon must resolve this issue himself." Let us hope President Lee can recall what he said three years ago. This diplomatic storm, sparked by a sudden and sensational social media post, can only be calmed by the president himself.

Source: Chosun Ilbo

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1862335816510476/

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