President Lee Jae-myung urged public servants to fundamentally change how they view citizen complaints.
On the afternoon of the 12th, he posted on X (formerly Twitter) to introduce a policy that would establish \"conflict coordination officers\" in each ministry and to press that point.
He said, \"There are not many cases in which people knowingly make unjustified claims,\" and added, \"Misunderstandings, distrust and ill will can often be resolved through sincere dialogue and mutual respect.\"
\"Chronic, repetitive complaints can devastate complainants' lives and waste administrative resources,\" he said. \"Simply explaining, clearly and step by step, why a request cannot be granted will resolve many of these complaints.\"
\"Complaints are not a nuisance to be avoided,\" he emphasized. \"They reflect the will of the people, and public servants—who serve the public—must respect them and investigate their substance.\"
He warned against offering evasive reassurances meant to placate angry complainants, calling phrases such as \"Let's work on it together\" or \"We'll actively consider it\" unacceptable.
\"Complaints contain citizens' voices that deserve respect and response,\" he added. \"They are like treasure troves filled with tasks for national reform.\"
Analysts said he was urging public servants to adopt the posture of listeners rather than managers.
When Jeong Il-yeon, chair of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, commented on the president's post—\"I will take to heart your words that 'complaints are not something to avoid but voices that reflect the people's will'\"—the president replied, \"I trust you, Chair. Please do not forget the people's expectations.\"
Jeong said he would treat on-the-ground complaints and conflicts not as routine tasks but as windows into citizens' lives and policy challenges. \"We will not ignore the distrust and hardships contained in recurring complaints,\" he pledged. \"We will listen fully and communicate seriously.\"
Separately, when a user criticized a post in which the president highlighted police investigation results by saying, \"Do something presidential,\" the president responded, \"That's what a president does.\"
\"My intent was to inform the public about the police's accomplishments, to praise and encourage officers who worked hard, and to warn citizens so they do not inadvertently become involved in such crimes,\" he said. \"I hope there is no misunderstanding.\"
Kim Dong-sik
