Justice Minister Nominee Kim Seung-won Withdraws Nomination

Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won withdrew his nomination on Friday, 20 days after his initial selection for the post. During a press conference at the National Assembly on Saturday, Kim stated he stepped down to avoid becoming a burden to the Lee Jae Myung administration and its reform agenda.

The withdrawal followed a confirmation hearing where the People Power Party raised several allegations against Kim. These included a past drunk-driving conviction, claims of preferential treatment for a social cooperative employing his family, and accusations that he pressured drug authorities in 2021 to expedite a COVID-19 treatment clinical trial for Genencell.

While apologizing for failing to meet public expectations, Kim maintained that some allegations were "unfairly raised." He accused former President Yoon Suk Yeol and lawmaker Han Dong-hoon of conducting politically motivated investigations. Prior to the withdrawal, President Lee Jae Myung had indicated he was still weighing Kim's qualifications and public expectations before making a final appointment decision.