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 objected on May 20, claiming that an administrator affiliated with the Presidential Office engaged in power abuse and excessive interference by sending what was essentially 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 extremely regrettable that such communication is taking place within the Presidential Office, the highest authority in public service," adding, "In more than 40 years of public service, I have never experienced such a rude incident." He also attached the email sent by the administrator.

The email stated that the deadline for submitting essential materials related to national policy tasks requested by the Presidential Office was May 17, but that the process was being delayed due to a lack of communication from the committee. The sender, believed to be an administrator from the Office of National Integration Secretary, wrote, "I must sternly inform you that this is a serious matter that could disrupt future national administration and reports to the President."

Chairman Lee argued that the contents of the email were factually incorrect. He explained that the Presidential Committee on National Integration had already conducted sufficient internal discussions and, with the chairman's approval, delivered the relevant report for the President to the appropriate senior office on May 14. He added, "Nevertheless, because the demands they made—essentially, matters that are difficult to accommodate—were not reflected, our staff were pressured even late into Sunday night, which is absurd."

Chairman Lee criticized this as power abuse and excessive interference, stating, "Such power abuse and excessive interference are never desirable."

Chairman Lee also revealed that he had already requested Kang Hoon-sik, Chief of Staff at the Presidential Office, to investigate the details of the situation and take appropriate action. He said, "Recently, there have been repeated attempts to interfere with every move of the Presidential Committee on National Integration and myself as its chairman, and to impose unnecessary obstacles. I cannot help but feel deeply aggrieved by this reality. I wish to share this matter with the public."

Meanwhile, President Lee Jaemyung appointed Seokyeon Lee, former head of the Ministry of Government Legislation 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.