SEOUL - The South Korean Presidential Office on Friday strongly condemned the claim by People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo that President Lee Jae-myung was unresponsive for "two days" following the major fire at the National Information Resources Service (NIRS) data center, labeling it as a "clear dissemination of false information" and announcing plans for legal action.
The Allegation and the Response
Rep. Joo Jin-woo had asserted on his Facebook page that President Lee Jae-myung had been silent for "two days, without presiding over a meeting or visiting the site" while the nation suffered from the fallout of the NIRS fire—a period he dubbed the "Lost 48 Hours." The fire, which occurred at the NIRS facility in Daejeon, had caused a massive disruption to key government administrative systems and services like postal banking.
In a written briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung expressed strong regret that the lawmaker was using an "unsubstantiated suspicion" to politicize a national crisis, stating the Presidential Office is "currently reviewing legal measures."
Presidential Activity Timeline
Spokesperson Kang laid out a timeline of the President's actions to counter the allegation:
September 26 (Day of the Fire): At approximately 8:20 PM, when the fire occurred, President Lee was still on a plane returning from the UN General Assembly in New York.
September 27 (Following Morning): At 9:39 AM, Lee Kyu-yeon, Presidential Secretary for Public Relations, notified reporters that President Lee, immediately upon his return, had received reports from the Head of the National Crisis Management Center and cabinet members and had "spent the night monitoring the situation." This was done to ensure a swift response to the fire and minimize public inconvenience.
September 28:
10:50 AM: The President received an in-person report on the fire from the Chief of Staff, the National Security Adviser, and other principal aides.
5:30 PM: President Lee personally went to the Government Complex in Seoul to preside over a face-to-face and video conference with ministers from relevant ministries and mayors/governors from 17 cities and provinces.
The Presidential Office also re-shared the original public notice regarding the President's actions on the 27th with the press corps to provide clear evidence.
Spokesperson Kang concluded by emphasizing that the President's actions were publicly communicated at the time and that Rep. Joo's claim is demonstrably false, regrettable for turning a national emergency into a political dispute. The government had previously ordered an emergency meeting on September 27 and a full Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on September 28 to address the extensive damage and restoration efforts, including the urgent need for a dual operating system to prevent future service paralysis. The President had also expressed his regret to the public for the great inconvenience and concern caused by the fire.
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