[COVER STORY] Migrant communities push back against Lee's 'reverse discrimination' framing

Multicultural families and advocates for migrant rights are vehemently disputing President Lee Jae Myung's recent assertion that certain support policies could be considered "reverse discrimination." They caution that his comments may exacerbate social divisions and fuel prejudice. Although Lee likely aimed to tackle fairness in welfare provisions and labor shortages in rural regions, his wording risks depicting migrants as undeserving recipients of aid.

In conversation with The Korea Times, they implored the president to exercise greater caution, emphasizing that his remarks carry significant influence in molding public perceptions of migrant communities.

During a Cabinet session on October 27, Lee opined that the influx of foreign workers "does not significantly benefit the national economy," asserting that they "send all their wages back to their home countries." In subsequent social media posts, he questioned whether government policies should extend beyond protecting multicultural families from disadvantages to bestowing them with superior treatment. He cited priority access to public posts as a reason for his concern.