PM Kim Boo-kyum suspends Facebook after 'likes' on critical posts

South Korean Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum announced on June 6 that he will temporarily halt his Facebook activities, citing "abnormal" occurrences on his account. He plans to use alternative platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for communication moving forward.

The decision follows a series of incidents where Kim's Facebook account registered "likes" on posts without his direct involvement. This has led to speculation and political interpretation, particularly given the upcoming August convention of the Democratic Party.

One notable instance involved Kim's account "liking" a Facebook post critical of Democratic Party leader Rep. Chung Jin-suk and commentator Kim Ou-joon. This occurred amidst internal party dynamics leading up to the convention, fueling political analysis of the prime minister's stance.

Kim stated that despite various checks, the cause of these "abnormal situations" remains unclear. To prevent further misunderstandings or political fallout, he has opted to suspend his Facebook usage for the time being.

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For some time now, I have become aware of abnormal situations such as numerous 'likes' being pressed on my Facebook without my knowledge. Despite various checks, there are limitations in identifying the cause, so I will suspend my Facebook activities for the time being and communicate through other platforms (X, Instagram, etc.).