South Korean President Lee said reform depends on sustained public interest, arguing that groups pursuing their own private gain cannot be counted on to bring it about, according to 연합뉴스TV. The remarks were reported Sunday, September 27, 2026.
연합뉴스TV reported that the president stressed the importance of citizens' attention to the reform agenda. In his view, bodies that stand to lose established privileges have little reason to push for change, which places the burden on the public instead.
Coverage of the same remarks by other South Korean outlets pointed in a similar direction. 동아일보 reported the president saying that some forces deliberately try to draw politics into low-quality fights, and that he would respond to smear attempts with dignity rather than matching their tone. 조선일보 reported him describing small acts of participation — even clicking a "like" — as a form of practice, and casting engaged citizens as the people who build a reformed society.
According to 경향신문, the president also addressed the media landscape, telling supporters not to feel let down when platforms they trust do not deliver the information they expect, and saying people must find their own way forward. 아시아경제 reported that he aimed criticism at the press over analysis suggesting his diplomatic achievements receive little coverage, repeating that groups facing the loss of vested interests cannot be expected to cooperate.
The reported comments combine a call for citizen involvement with criticism of established interests and parts of the media. What to watch next: whether the president's office puts these themes into specific reform proposals, and how opposition parties and news organizations respond.
