{
  "id": 19088397,
  "title": "No more cronies in public office",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/no-more-cronies-in-public-office",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-09T04:32:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/opinion/editorial/20261109/ed-no-more-cronies-in-public-office"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Cronyism has come under scrutiny during President Lee Jae Myung's tenure. He has appointed individuals he knows personally to crucial government roles, primarily lawyers and civil rights activists from his time as mayor of Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. These individuals, collectively known as the \"Seongnam Network,\" share a bond forged during their time in the city. While cronyism is not unique to Lee, his administration appears to be taking this practice to an unprecedented level. He is appointing individuals who lack the necessary qualifications, or in some cases, are simply incapable of fulfilling their duties. This has resulted in a significant blow to the president's reputation and political support. An example of this is Ha Dong-keun, president of the Korea District Heating Corp., whose career has been negatively impacted by Lee's poor judgment and appointing unqualified individuals.",
  "summary": "Cronyism has raised red flags over President Lee Jae Myung’s leadership. Lee has filled key government posts with people he knows personally, mostly lawyers and civil rights activists with whom he worked while mayor of Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. Those with personal ties to Lee are broadly referred to in the media as the “Seongnam Network,” reflecting the bonds they forged in the city. Cronyism…",
  "key_points": [
    "President Lee Jae Myung appoints cronies to key government roles.",
    "Seongnam Network comprises individuals from Lee's Seongnam tenure.",
    "Appointments lack necessary qualifications, damaging Lee's reputation."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Prioritizing personal loyalty over professional qualifications erodes public trust and undermines the administrative competence of the presidency by filling critical government roles with members of a closed political network.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}