{
  "id": 16407432,
  "title": "President Lee mulls picking justice minister nominee from 2 prosecutor-turned-lawmakers",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/president-lee-mulls-picking-justice-minister-nominee-from-2",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-25T01:37:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/politics/20261025/president-lee-mulls-picking-justice-minister-nominee-from-2-prosecutor-turned-lawmakers"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "President Lee Jae Myung is considering naming a justice minister nominee from among two prosecutor-turned-lawmakers who were previously recommended for the position, a presidential office source revealed on Sunday. The two candidates under review are Rep. Park Kyoon-taek and Rep. Yang Bu-nam, both members of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), according to a Cheong Wa Dae source speaking with Yonhap News Agency.\n\nFollowing a thorough deliberation process, Lee is weighing his decision between Park and Yang. An official nomination is anticipated to be announced in the near future, according to the source. Earlier this year, in a Cabinet reshuffle at the end of August, Lee had picked Rep. Kim Seung-won of the DPK to head the justice ministry. A parliamentary confirmation hearing took place the following month, but Kim ultimately withdrew his candidacy due to controversies surrounding lobbying allegations, including pressure for a COVID-19 treatment drug.\n\nWith a two-month gap in the justice minister position, Lee is said to be exercising caution while contemplating public opinion as he reviews the nomination. Both Park and Yang are first-term lawmakers and are being carefully considered by Lee for the critical government post.",
  "summary": "President Lee Jae Myung is mulling over selecting a justice minister nominee from between two prosecutor-turned-lawmakers after his previous pick for the post withdrew his candidacy last month over lobbying allegations, a source at the presidential office said Sunday. Rep. Park Kyoon-taek and Rep. Yang Bu-nam of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) are the candidates that Lee is reviewing…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "Lee mulls picking justice minister nominee from 2 prosecutor-turned-lawmakers",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/lee-mulls-picking-justice-minister-nominee-from-2-prosecutor-turned",
        "published": "2026-10-25T01:06:48.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}