Blue House Official Criticizes National Cohesion Committee for Delayed Submission... Lee Seok-yeon Responds: "In 40 Years of Service, I've Never Seen Such Rudeness"

Lee Seok-yeon, Chairman of the National Cohesion Committee, Reveals Blue House Official's Email

Lee Seok-yeon: "Power Harassment, Excessive Interference... Virtually a Warning Email"

Lee Seok-yeon Requests Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik to Inv

Seokyeon Lee, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on National Integration, publicly expressed his opposition on the 20th, claiming that an administrative officer affiliated with the Office of the President engaged in abuse of power and excessive interference through what amounted to a warning email.

Seokyeon Lee, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on National Integration, is announcing the results of the five major social conflict public perception survey for national integration at the Government Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul on February 1, 2026.

In a press release that afternoon, Chairman Lee stated, "It is deeply regrettable that such communication is taking place at the Office of the President, which sits at the highest echelon of the public sector," adding, "In my over 40 years of public service, I have never encountered such a rude case." He also attached the email sent by the administrative officer.

The email stated that the deadline for submitting essential materials related to state affairs, as requested by the Office of the President, was set for the 17th, but the committee had delayed submission due to a lack of communication. The sender, presumed to be an administrative officer from the Presidential Office for National Integration, wrote, "I solemnly inform you that this is a serious matter which could disrupt future state management and presidential reporting."

Chairman Lee asserted that the content of the email was factually incorrect. He explained that the National Integration Committee had already completed sufficient internal discussions by the 14th and, with the chairman’s approval, delivered the report for the President to the relevant senior office. He further stated, "Nonetheless, because our response did not include what they had requested—demands that were, in fact, nearly impossible to accommodate—staff were pressured until Sunday night, leading to this farcical situation."

Chairman Lee criticized this as abuse of power and excessive interference. He stated, "Such abuse of power and excessive interference is by no means appropriate."

Chairman Lee also revealed that he had already asked Kang Hoon-sik, Chief of Staff of the Office of the President, to accurately ascertain the details of this incident and take appropriate measures. He commented, "Recently, there have been repeated attempts to meddle in every move of the National Integration Committee and myself as chairman, adding unnecessary obstacles. I cannot help but feel deeply distressed by this reality," adding, "I wish to share this matter with the public."

Meanwhile, President Lee Jaemyung appointed Seokyeon Lee, a former head of the Legislation Bureau from the conservative bloc, as chairman of the National Integration Committee in September last year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.