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President Lee Jae-myung speaks during a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae on June 3. (Photo courtesy of Yonhap News Agency) |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on Friday criticized a report released by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), calling claims of a sharp rise in wealthy individuals leaving the country “deliberate fake news.”
In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), President Lee shared a media column questioning the credibility of the KCCI’s recent press release, saying it was “hard to believe that a legally recognized organization would publicly engage in such conduct.”
The column challenged the reliability of a KCCI report published on July 3 titled “Inheritance Tax Revenue Outlook and Diversification of Payment Methods,” which claimed that 2,400 high-net-worth individuals left South Korea last year—double the previous year’s figure and the fourth-highest total globally. Critics noted that the data was sourced from a foreign immigration consulting firm and based on what they described as weak research methodology.
President Lee said producing and disseminating fake news to pursue private interests or attack government policies deserves strong condemnation, adding that “intentional fake news aimed at distorting the judgment of sovereign citizens is an enemy of democracy.”
He also said the government would “hold those responsible accountable and put in place measures to prevent a recurrence.”
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
