Home > Opinion > Columns

President ensnared by social media and likely to be again

Published: 15 Apr. 2026, 00:02

Ahn Hai-ri

The author is an editorial writer at the JoongAng Ilbo.

It is now widely understood that social media algorithms, including those used by Facebook, reinforce users’ confirmation bias. Less widely recognized is how the digital traces individuals leave behind can be used as tools to influence their behavior. President Lee Jae Myung, who has used Twitter, now X, since 2010 and remains highly active on social media, is no exception. In fact, his frequent use may make him more vulnerable.

President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a Cabinet meeting and emergency economic review session at the Cheong Wa Dae on April 14. [YONHAP]

A recent controversy illustrates this dynamic. On Friday, Lee shared a video on his X account that was later found to be outdated and misleading, triggering diplomatic friction with Israel. The clip, described as showing Israeli forces handling the bodies of Palestinian militants, had circulated previously and was reinterpreted in a misleading context. The episode recalls past instances of social media manipulation, such as the “Defeat Crooked Hillary” (2016) voter suppression campaign, which used psychological profiling of Facebook users during the U.S. presidential election.

The issue is not only that a sitting president of South Korea shared unverified content, including claims that framed the video as evidence of child abuse. Even after questions arose about its accuracy, Lee criticized Israel for what he described as repeated violations of human rights and international law and expressed disappointment. He also dismissed domestic critics, including opposition figures and media outlets, as undermining national interests for personal motives. Such responses have raised concerns about judgment and communication at the highest level of government.

More troubling, however, is the broader implication. Regardless of Lee’s intention to highlight universal human rights, his remarks have already been used in social media campaigns critical of Israel and may continue to be amplified in that context. The video itself follows a familiar pattern seen in anti-Israel online narratives, where past footage is repackaged to suggest ongoing abuses against civilians, particularly women and children.

The account that initially circulated the video, @Jvnior, was created in March 2021 and has posted more than 60,000 times, averaging over 30 posts per day. Much of its content focuses on similar themes. The volume and consistency raise questions about whether it represents an ordinary individual user. It remains unclear whether the president was aware of this background before sharing the content. What is clear is that, by following the account, he encountered and reposted the material at a sensitive moment, just ahead of Yom HaShoah, Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Day, which fell on Monday this year.

Another feature of such campaigns is the inversion of historical narratives, particularly the attempt to equate Israel’s actions with the persecution suffered by Jews during the Holocaust. When Lee wrote that there was little difference between the genocide of Jews and wartime killings attributed to Israel, the statement aligned with a framing often used in these narratives.

Whether by coincidence or design, the account has since continued to post content related to South Korea. It has shared messages thanking the president, reposted his criticism of Israel’s foreign ministry and circulated footage of anti-Israel protests in South Korea. It has also posted videos of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, accompanied by comments suggesting that South Korea now opposes Israel. Regardless of Lee’s intent, his statements have been incorporated into a broader messaging campaign.

The concern extends beyond this single incident. The episode suggests that influencing high-level figures may require relatively little cost or sophistication. Without the need for advanced data analysis, coordinated messaging through social media can shape perceptions and prompt reactions at the highest levels.

Recognizing such risks is the first step toward mitigation. Yet the president continues to follow the account in question.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.