On August 10, the Lee Jae-myung government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement expressing concern over Israel’s plan to take control over Gaza City and reaffirming its support for the two-state solution.

The statement expresses “grave concern” that Israel’s plan could further aggravate the humanitarian crisis. However, it does not define the crimes Israel is committing in Gaza as “genocide,” conscious that Israel and the United States strongly oppose such a designation.

Crucially, the response amounts to words alone—“grave concern”—with no tangible action pledged. Yet Korea is not without leverage over Israel.

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is one of the world’s top sellers of aircraft parts to Israel. However, the Lee Jae-myung government has no plans to halt the supply of components that Israel uses to commit genocide.

The Israeli Embassy in Seoul has been spreading lies in the media, denying any responsibility for the Gaza famine. The Lee Jae-myung government, however, not only refuses to expel the embassy but also turns a blind eye to such outrageous lies.

It refuses even the modest demand to withdraw its invitation to Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, a university that supports Israel’s arms sector, to attend an international symposium in Seoul.

The ministry’s statement also “strongly calls on all relevant parties to make every effort to protect civilians,” implying Hamas and Israel bear equal responsibility for the massacre of civilians. Even while expressing concern over the Gaza City occupation plan, the Korean government is apparently straining to avoid open condemnation of Israel in the current war.

The statement declares it “opposes all measures undermining the realization of the two-state solution.” Thus it not only opposes Israel’s occupation of the Gaza Strip, but also takes issue with Palestinian resistance and the demand for the right of return.

This statement by Lee Jae-myung’s government is in fact hardly distinguishable from that of the Yoon Suk-yeol government. (In particular, it is nearly identical to the MOFA spokesperson’s February 2024 statement regarding Israel’s military operation in Rafah.)

By limiting itself to words of “concern” over Israel’s plan to occupy Gaza City while maintaining relations with Israel, the Lee Jae-myung government is effectively condoning and facilitating Israel’s genocide.

We strongly demand the Lee Jae-myung government cut ties with Israel, including expelling the Israeli Embassy.