Font size: 
In an address to top technology officials from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Lee praised the Internet as having served as "an accelerator in bringing about creativity and changes across all fronts of society."
"The Internet economy is expediting the development of a knowledge-based society, thus leading new economic growth and job creation," Lee told the OECD Ministerial Meeting on the Future of the Internet Economy that opened in Seoul on Tuesday.
Lee, former head of an Internet-based financial firm, said he is convinced the Internet, if adequately utilized, could greatly contribute to resolving hordes of problems facing mankind, including energy shortages, climate change and an aging society.
But he warned the Internet has also been used to spread "false and incorrect" information, which is "threatening the people's rational thinking and mutual trust.”
"Now, the Internet is faced with new challenges and tasks,” Lee said. “We have recently witnessed increasing damage from the spread of computer viruses, hacking, cyber terrorism and the leakage of personal information," he told the global technology leaders.
"In particular, spam mail sent under the guise of anonymity and the spread of falsehoods and inaccurate information are threatening even rationality and trust,” Lee said.
"The Internet should be a space of trust. Otherwise, the force of the Internet could turn out to be venomous rather than beneficial," he warned.
The remarks come at a time when Lee is suffering from a sharp public outcry following his decision to resume U.S. beef imports. His action sparked protests fueled by Internet-spread fears of mad cow disease.
Candlelight vigils have been held almost daily since early May, mainly organized by cyberspace networking in one of the world's most wired and tech-savvy nations.
Scare stories about the dangers of U.S. beef have spread quickly throughout the country through the Internet and mobile text messages. Internet bulletin boards have been deluged with messages criticizing Lee for making a "concession" to the United States by resuming American beef imports despite public health concerns.
The candlelight vigils have recently turned into a platform to criticize Lee's other policies, such as plans to build cross-country canals and privatize public firms that would cut jobs.
Many demonstrators said they voluntarily joined the rallies after watching the protests broadcast live online. Equipped with laptops, videos and cameras, tech-savvy protesters posted their own coverage of the protests on Web sites that enable Internet users to post and broadcast their stories live.
The online-driven demonstrations forced Lee to offer a public apology and send senior officials to Washington to seek U.S. help to calm public uproar over fears of mad cow disease. The rallies also prompted Lee's entire Cabinet and presidential staff to offer to resign less than four months after taking office.
Critics slammed the Internet-based protests as "digital populism," but Lee, overwhelmed by the mounting influence of cyber networking, plans to create a presidential post for Internet policy.
The U.S. beef row has combined with a slowing economy to undermine his approval rating, which has plunged to under 20 percent, a record low for a new president, threatening mandate of the pro-American leader.
In a separate address, Lee warned the global economy is now facing its biggest crisis since the "oil shock" three decades ago, in an apparent bid to justify his having backpedaled on reforms and deregulation in the face of the country’s slowing economy hit by soaring oil import costs.
He has vowed to raise growth to 7 percent during his five-year term, but recently hinted he may revise his pro-growth policy, citing rising inflation and soaring oil prices.
"Coupled with a steep hike in the price of oil, food and raw materials, it is now no exaggeration to say that the global economy is faced with the most serious crisis since the oil shocks of the 1970s," Lee told a gathering of Asia-Europe finance ministers.
