South Korea justice nominee withdraws in Lee's second cabinet setback as polls slide
His exit is the second cabinet pick to step aside this month as President Lee Jae Myung’s approval falls to 37%, Gallup Korea said.
- On Saturday, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's nominee for justice minister, Kim Seung-won, withdrew his nomination after deep deliberation, stating he did not want to burden the administration.
- His withdrawal follows allegations concerning his involvement in a COVID-19 treatment and approval of its clinical trials, which Kim has denied despite scrutiny from a conservative lawmaker.
- Kim, a two-term Democratic Party lawmaker, served as a judge at the Jeonju District Court and Suwon District Court before joining former President Moon Jae-in's office and facing scrutiny during his confirmation hearing on Tuesday.
- This exit follows Yong Hye-in's withdrawal as nominee for gender-equality minister on Sunday, as a Gallup Korea poll released on Friday placed President Lee's approval rating at 37%, his lowest since taking office in June 2025.
- At a press conference on Friday, President Lee acknowledged shortcomings in his administration's screening of nominees, saying, "We are currently working to reexamine our personnel system.
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17 Articles
Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won withdraws candidacy
Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won withdrew his nomination on Saturday following allegations concerning his involvement in a COVID-19 treatment and approval of its clinical trials. “After much deliberation, I decided to step down as the nominee for minister of justice ministry. I apologize for failing to live up to your expectations,” Kim said during a press conference at the National Assembly. Kim, a two-term lawmaker of the ruling Democrat…
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The Democratic Party of Korea announced that Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won will hold a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Center at 11 a.m. on the 19th. Earlier, President Lee Jae-myung nominated him as the candidate on the 30th of last month. Attention is focused on whether nominee Kim, who has faced allegations of so-called "lobbying for new drug clinical trials," will express his position regarding his future.
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- 40% of the sources are Center, 40% of the sources lean Right
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