Kim Seung-won, the nominee for Minister of Justice, has resigned amid various controversies. Following the ruling party's unilateral handling of the confirmation process, the political landscape has entered a phase of intense confrontation, leading to a decline in public opinion and ultimately prompting his decision to step down after 20 days.
On September 19, Kim held a press conference at the National Assembly and stated, "After deep consideration, I have decided to resign from my position as Minister of Justice nominee."
He expressed gratitude to President Lee for his nomination, saying, "I have worked tirelessly for the success of the government born from the people's sovereignty, and I am truly sorry for not meeting expectations."
Regarding his resignation, he explained, "I solidified my decision after watching the President's press conference yesterday. The lives of the people and the success of the government must come first. I believe we should not add to the burdens of a government that needs to focus on people's livelihoods and complete reforms."
Kim added, "I wanted to protect democracy as Minister of Justice, ensure fair law enforcement without privilege, and support the safe daily lives of the people. I aimed to establish a new criminal justice system stably."
He continued, "However, I will stop my efforts here as Minister of Justice. I accept that I have not met the expectations of the people and will deeply reflect on my shortcomings."
Kim also extended his condolences to those affected, particularly the disabled and their families, as well as those dedicated to caregiving, emphasizing, "I offer my deepest sympathies to all those who have been hurt by this situation."
In response to allegations regarding the leak of internal materials from the prosecution, Kim expressed his determination to take strong action. He stated, "Even if I step down now, I will not give up on the truth. I will ensure that the unfinished prosecution reform is completed. I will reveal the full extent of the targeted investigations by the political prosecution of Yoon Suk-yeol and Han Dong-hoon, as well as the illegal leaks of investigation secrets by Han Dong-hoon. I believe this incident has proven the necessity of prosecution reform to the public."
He concluded by stating, "I will work with a lower and more humble attitude for the people and do my best for the success of the Lee Jae-myung government as a member of the people's sovereignty government."
Kim was nominated by President Lee Jae-myung on August 30 but faced intense scrutiny from the opposition due to allegations of soliciting bribes for new drug approvals, hiring practices at family welfare agencies, and collusion with sitting judges. The situation escalated when the ruling Democratic Party pushed through the confirmation report on September 17, intensifying opposition backlash.
As government and ruling party approval ratings declined, President Lee's cautious stance regarding Kim's appointment during a press conference led to his resignation.
In the previous cabinet reshuffle, Kim is the second nominee to resign voluntarily, following Yong Hye-in, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, who stepped down 14 days after her nomination due to concerns over the appropriateness of holding both a proportional representative position and a ministerial role.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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