Lee says opposes ending live broadcasts of Cabinet meetings

SEOUL, Oct. 16 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung said Friday that he disagrees with a need to end the livestreams of Cabinet meetings, calling a recent news report on alleged calls from Cabinet members to that end a "false claim."

The president wrote the message on his X account, citing the report that ministers had voiced concerns over livestreaming Cabinet meetings during a recent dinner with the prime minister.

Since taking office in June last year, the Lee administration has broadcast Cabinet meetings and other presidential events online to better connect with the public.

While the president's opening remarks and general discussions of Cabinet meetings are broadcast live, sessions are closed to the public when sensitive matters are discussed.

"I cannot agree with some calls to keep entire Cabinet sessions closed," the president wrote. "Minutes of Cabinet meetings have been open to the public in the past and in principle, all public administration should be disclosed."

The president denied the report that some Cabinet members have asked the prime minister to propose halting live broadcasts of Cabinet meetings to the president, calling it "not true."

The office of Prime Minister Han Seong-sook earlier denied the news report, which claimed that some ministers have expressed concerns over their inability to publicly object or oppose any remarks from the president even when necessary.

"For the first time in history, the (Lee) government is livestreaming Cabinet discussions, and this is aimed at disclosing state administration transparently to the public and have people's opinions reflected in policies," Han's office has said.

The president, too, dismissed such a possibility, saying that Cabinet members are already able to make confidential remarks during the portions of Cabinet meetings that are closed to the public, and that he also urges them to speak to him privately if needed.

"I am confident that there are no Cabinet members who remain unable to say what they have to say to the president, at least in this administration," he said, also expressing "deep regret" over what he called "false claims."

pbr@yna.co.kr
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