Lee says multicultural family support resulting in 'reverse discrimination' cannot be justified

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SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung renewed his call Saturday for a review of multicultural family support programs, saying any preferential policy that can create reverse discrimination cannot be justified.

Lee posted the comments on social media amid criticism after he suggested the need to revise the support programs for multicultural families in South Korea, such as priority access to low-cost public postpartum care centers.

In an earlier posting on his X account, Lee questioned whether mothers from multicultural families and mothers recognized as persons of national merit deserve to be placed in the same category for reservations at government-funded postpartum care centers.

The issue, which the liberal president brought forward after citing a post from a conservative online community site, has drawn backlash from the liberal bloc voicing concern that such a move amounts to inciting hatred in society.

"While it is true that support for multicultural families is necessary, that cannot justify specific policies that are unreasonable or may result in reverse discrimination," Lee wrote on X.

"Just because a general assertion is righteous does not mean that every detail of that assertion is correct," he said.

Lee also called to attention why some people often show resentment toward statements about political correctness or double standards, saying that the necessary support for all will further gain ground when "faulty parts" are acknowledged and rectified.

"The more sensitive an issue is, the less we should avoid it out of fear that it will spark controversy or let leaders decide everything behind closed doors, but get the entire public to engage, bring up the issue and debate it seriously," he said.

"Defending the issue only because I advocate that will not help solve the problem, but will only worsen it," he added.

President Lee Jae Myung delivers remarks during a memorial ceremony marking the fourth anniversary of the Itaewon crowd crush, in Seoul's central Gwanghwamun on Oct. 29, 2026, in this pool photo provided by the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae. (Yonhap)

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Lee says multicultural family support resulting in 'reverse discrimination' cannot be justified

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首尔，10月31日（韩联社）——韩国总统李在明周六再次呼吁审查多元文化家庭支持计划，称任何可能造成反向歧视的优惠政策都是不合理的。

李在社交媒体上发表了上述言论，此前他建议需要修改韩国对多元文化家庭的支持计划，例如优先获得低成本的公共产后护理中心服务，此举招致了批评。

李在早前于其 X 账户上发帖质疑，来自多元文化家庭的母亲和被公认为国家功勋人物的母亲是否应该被归为同一类，以便在政府资助的产后护理中心获得预留名额。

这位自由派总统在引用一个保守派在线社区网站上的帖子后提出了这个问题，引发了自由派阵营的强烈反对，他们担心此举相当于在社会上煽动仇恨。

“虽然支持多元文化家庭是必要的，但这不能成为制定不合理或可能导致反向歧视的具体政策的理由，”李在 X 上写道。

他说：“仅仅因为一个总体说法是正确的，并不意味着该说法的每个细节都是正确的。”

李还指出，有些人经常对有关政治正确或双重标准的言论表示不满，他说，当“错误部分”得到承认和纠正时，对所有人必要的支持将会进一步扩大。

他说：“问题越敏感，我们就越不应该因为害怕引发争议而回避它，也不应该让领导人在闭门会议中决定一切，而应该让全体公众参与进来，提出问题并认真讨论。”

“仅仅因为我支持某个观点就去捍卫它，这无助于解决问题，只会让问题变得更糟，”他补充道。

2026年10月29日，韩国总统李在明在首尔市中心光化门出席梨泰院人群踩踏事件四周年纪念仪式并发表讲话。（这张由总统府青瓦台提供的照片）

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李表示，多元文化家庭支持导致的“反向歧视”是站不住脚的。