Justice minister nominee's withdrawal deals blow to president, ruling party
Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won's withdrawal from candidacy is expected to deal another setback to President Lee Jae Myung and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), as they are already struggling with declining public support. Kim stepped down Saturday, 20 days after his nomination, following controversy over several allegations — including that he used his influence as a lawmaker in…
The withdrawal of Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won is likely to further undermine President Lee Jae Myung and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), who are already grappling with waning public support. Kim made the decision to step down on Saturday, 20 days after his nomination, amid controversy surrounding allegations that he had used his influence as a lawmaker in 2021 to assist a pharmaceutical company in obtaining regulatory approval for a COVID-19 clinical drug trial.
Despite the National Assembly's approval of his nomination, Kim's withdrawal came after the controversy had erupted. While the move alleviated some immediate pressure on Lee over the appointment, it only served to heighten concerns about shortcomings within the administration's personnel vetting system. Moreover, Kim's departure leaves the justice ministry without leadership at a crucial juncture, as the country prepares to undergo a major overhaul of its criminal justice system in October as part of Lee's broader prosecution reform agenda.
For the ruling party, Kim's withdrawal serves as a stark reminder of its political misstep, highlighting the party's challenges in selecting suitable candidates for key positions.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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