Biography Flash: Lee Jae-myung's Eventful Week - From TV Sensation to Political Firestorm cover art

Biography Flash: Lee Jae-myung's Eventful Week - From TV Sensation to Political Firestorm

Biography Flash: Lee Jae-myung's Eventful Week - From TV Sensation to Political Firestorm

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 Lee Jae-myung Biography Flash a weekly Biography.

It has been an eventful week for President Lee Jae-myung of South Korea, with headlines shifting rapidly from political intrigue to pop culture sensation. Most notably, President Lee and First Lady Kim Hea Kyung appeared on JTBC’s popular cooking show "Please Take Care of My Refrigerator" in celebration of Chuseok. Their appearance, which aired last Monday but was filmed in late September, broke all-time ratings for the show at 8.9 percent, and marked the first time a sitting Korean president starred in a variety program. The couple passionately promoted Korean food culture, with Lee highlighting the enduring power and economic potential of K-food. The broadcast drew attention for its warmth, but also became a political flashpoint.

Almost immediately, Lee’s critics in the opposition People Power Party accused him of neglecting a national crisis. A fire at a major data center had paralyzed government systems and resulted in the tragic death of a civil servant, just days before the variety show was taped. The opposition charged that Lee’s focus on promoting himself was ill-timed, alleging a “lost 48 hours” of leadership. According to Korea JoongAng Daily and The DongA Ilbo, this ignited a flurry of legal actions with both sides filing defamation suits and demanding transparency regarding the president’s official schedule during the fire. The presidential office fired back, stating Lee was briefed on the crisis and held emergency meetings, while Democratic Party lawmakers called the criticism political theater.

On the social media front, Lee has leaned into public empathy. He posted holiday greetings alongside the First Lady dressed in traditional hanbok, vowing to put people’s livelihoods first, “even if it means enduring blame and misunderstanding,” as reported by Korea JoongAng Daily. These posts, alongside images from the Chuseok festivities, have circulated widely, bolstering Lee’s carefully crafted “man of the people” image.

Turning to policy and governance, there was no holiday pause for Lee. Just today, October 12th, he ordered all government ministries to actively cooperate with the upcoming National Assembly audit, insisting on accountability and promising to personally reprimand any agency found negligent in responding to legitimate criticism. He also ordered a strengthened investigation into alleged external pressure on prosecutors in a customs drug probe, reinforcing his reputation as a no-nonsense reformer, according to Maeil Business Newspaper.

Internationally, Lee continues to grapple with other contentious issues, from tariff negotiations with the United States—which now loom over South Korean economic policy—to managing growing anti-China demonstrations in Seoul, which he condemned as “self-destructive” acts jeopardizing national interests, according to China Daily.

In sum, this week has seen Lee Jae-myung at the center of politics, culture, controversy, and reform—a presidency redefining the boundaries between national crisis management and celebrity outreach. Thank you for listening, and be sure to subscribe to never miss an update on Lee Jae-myung. Remember to search the term Biography Flash for more great biographies.

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