SEOUL, Nov. 5 — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung used a new government YouTube program to float unannounced broadcasts from his office, extending his direct communication with the public into a live format.
In the episode, Lee raised the possibility of sometimes switching on a live camera at his office without first notifying the public. The debut of The President’s Y was recorded Nov. 4 and released Nov. 5 at 7 a.m. EST (12:00 UTC), the presidential office said. The episode itself was prerecorded.
The office described the program as an extension of Lee’s existing communication through X. It said the show would explain policy decisions and current issues and give Lee a chance to respond to questions and comments posted on his social media channels.
Episodes are planned to run about 30 minutes and appear every two to three weeks, depending on the president’s schedule. Former MBC announcer Son Jeong-eun hosts the program. KTV’s release identifies Sangchunjae as its setting.
Lee also defended his use of social media and public broadcasts of Cabinet meetings as ways to communicate with the public. The Korea Herald reported that Lee argued edited footage can leave viewers wondering whether they have seen the full exchange. He presented live broadcasts as a way for viewers to see more of presidential work directly.
The presidential office has not announced when the next episode will air. Lee gave no date for any proposed livestreams from his office.
