South Korea justice nominee withdraws in Lee's second cabinet setback as polls slide
Kim Seung-won's exit is the latest fallout from President Lee Jae Myung's cabinet reshuffle in late August.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's nominee for justice minister, Kim Seung-won, withdrew from consideration on September 19, marking the second cabinet pick to step aside this month as the president's approval ratings decline. Kim cited reluctance to burden the administration and criticized a conservative lawmaker's accusations against him of lobbying regulators over a drug trial and financial irregularities, both of which he denies.
Gallup Korea's latest poll revealed Lee's public approval has plummeted to 37%, the lowest since his June 2025 inauguration, with critics attributing the drop to contentious personnel selections. President Lee acknowledged his administration's screening process for nominees required reevaluation, admitting his administration has made errors.
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Also reported by 2 other outlets
- S. Korea’s justice nominee withdraws in Lee’s second cabinet setback freemalaysiatoday.com
- South Korea’s Justice Minister Nominee Withdraws After Reshuffle bloomberg.com
