A representative of a custom t-shirt production company claimed to have been reported for defamation after creating a satirical t-shirt featuring President Lee Jae-myung.
On August 11, the individual, referred to as A, posted on their social media account that they received a call from the police stating, "A complaint has been filed for defaming President Lee Jae-myung. It will be transferred to the police station in my area."
The post included a photo of the custom t-shirt, which prominently featured the phrase 'WE ARE FAMILY' alongside an image of President Lee wearing a tight-fitting shirt and showing off a tattoo.
A explained that they had created the t-shirt based on a request, indicating that they did not design it themselves but produced it as per the client's specifications.
This incident sparked various reactions online, with comments such as, "It's really interesting. Why is it that only the left can get away with insulting the opposing side?" and "Be careful with the backlash," reflecting a sense of frustration over perceived double standards.
Additionally, past remarks made by President Lee regarding derogatory expressions towards politicians were revisited. In a speech on March 30, 2024, while serving as the leader of the Democratic Party, he stated, "It is permissible to belittle the president, members of the National Assembly, district heads, and mayors because the president is not a king." He emphasized that politicians should be criticized as they are public servants working for the people.
During the same period, he asserted, "Politicians are not our rulers; the sovereignty of South Korea belongs to the people."
As these past statements gained traction online, users commented, "Didn’t he say it was okay to insult?" and "There seems to be a contradiction here," questioning the consistency of his stance.
Some netizens remarked, "Honestly, he might find it a bit funny," and compared the situation to how leaders in China and North Korea, like Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-un, would react to mockery.
However, there have been instances where President Lee took legal action against derogatory posts about him. According to Yonhap News, during his tenure as mayor of Seongnam in 2016, he filed complaints against 24 individuals for posting and disseminating messages suggesting he should be 'executed,' citing charges of defamation, threats, and violations of election laws.
Recently, investigations related to defamation allegations against President Lee have continued. In July, the Cyber Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency forwarded a case against Professor Moss Tan from Liberty University in the U.S. for defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act and criminal law.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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