{
  "id": 19091797,
  "title": "No more cronies in public office",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/no-more-cronies-in-public-office-19091797",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-09T04:52:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "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 for President Lee Jae Myung's administration. The president has been accused of appointing personal friends to key 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,\" are believed to have formed close connections while residing in the city. However, the current administration's reliance on personal ties raises significant concerns. Unlike his predecessors, Lee seems to have taken the practice to an extreme, filling positions with individuals who lack the necessary qualifications or are simply unable to perform their duties effectively. This has had a detrimental impact on the president's reputation and his ability to maintain political support. A prime example of the consequences of such poor judgment is the case of Ha Dong-keun, the president of the Korea District Heating Corp.",
  "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": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "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."
}