Lee Jae-myung Compares Israel's Actions to Holocaust, Sparks Diplomatic Row and Domestic Criticism

SEOUL, April 13 (CNA) -- South Korean President Lee Jae-myung recently sparked a diplomatic dispute with Israel and drew criticism within South Korea after posting on social media, comparing Israel's military actions against Palestinians to the Nazi Holocaust against Jews.

Reuters reported that the controversy began when Lee Jae-myung reposted a video on X on April 10, with text claiming it showed a Palestinian being abused by Israeli forces and thrown from a building roof.

Lee Jae-myung also wrote in the post that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF)'s "wartime killings are no different from the Holocaust."

This is a rare instance of Lee Jae-myung discussing international politics on social media. This comes as the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran starting February 28, leading Tehran to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy transportation route. South Korea, being one of the world's largest oil and natural gas importers, faces soaring energy prices, forcing Lee Jae-myung's government to find solutions.

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded on X on April 11, stating that Lee Jae-myung "for some strange reason, chose to bring up an old incident from 2024," and pointed out that the incident occurred during an IDF mission against "terrorists" and had been thoroughly investigated.

The Israeli military stated in 2024 that it had launched an investigation into the incident in the video, saying the actions in the video did not conform to its values.

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs also accused Lee Jae-myung on April 11 of "downplaying the massacre of Jews on the eve of Israel's Holocaust Remembrance Day," calling his remarks "unacceptable and deserving of strong condemnation."

Israel's Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah) falls today, commemorating the 6 million Jews killed by the Nazis during World War II.

Lee Jae-myung responded on the same day, saying Israel's criticism was "disappointing" because it is natural to feel sad for those who suffer.

The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs also posted on the same day, stating that Lee Jae-myung's remarks were about universal human rights and expressed regret over Israel's "misunderstanding."

However, South Korea's conservative opposition party, the People Power Party, criticized Lee Jae-myung for not speaking more carefully and for remaining silent on human rights abuses in North Korea, showing a double standard.

South Korean mainstream media "JoongAng Ilbo" wrote in an article today that someone should advise Lee Jae-myung to realize the weight of presidential remarks and that unfiltered comments on social media could lead to misunderstandings, especially sensitive international disputes. (Compiler: Zhang Zhengqian) 1150413