[Breaking] Lee’s chief of staff tenders resignation over vetting of Cabinet picks

On Monday, President Lee Jae Myung's chief of staff, Kang Hoon-sik, tendered his resignation, accepting full responsibility for a series of Cabinet nominations that have been widely criticized as bungled. Kang conveyed his intention to step down to Lee earlier in the day, according to a senior presidential secretary for public relations, Sung Ki-hong, during a briefing.

The presidential office has not yet confirmed whether Lee has accepted Kang's resignation. Kang serves as the chairman of Cheong Wa Dae's personnel committee, overseeing the selection and screening of minister-level officials. His offer to resign is seen as a response to the successive withdrawals of nominees for the positions of gender equality minister, Yong Hye-in, and justice minister, Kim Seung-won.