Kim withdraws as justice minister nominee

Kim Seung-won, a two-term lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), has withdrawn his nomination for justice minister following allegations related to his involvement in COVID-19 treatment and approval of its clinical trials. In a press conference at the National Assembly, Kim stated, "After much deliberation, I decided to step down as the nominee for justice minister.

I apologize for failing to live up to your expectations." The decision emerged after a parliamentary committee adopted his confirmation hearing report on Thursday, despite objections from the main opposition People Power Party regarding the allegations. Kim, who previously served as a judge at the Jeonju District Court and the Suwon District Court, had been working in the office of political affairs under the liberal Moon Jae-in administration before his election to the 21st National Assembly in 2020. He later assumed the role of chief of the DPK's legal affairs committee.