Resignation of Lee Sang-gap, Legal Affairs Director at the Ministry of Justice Appointed During Choo Mi-ae's Tenure

This Legal Affairs Director from Minbyun Appointed through Ministry of Justice's 'Deprosecutorization' Policy

Lee Sang-gap, Director of the Legal Affairs Office at the Ministry of Justice, is briefing on the progress of the international investment dispute (ISDS) including the dispute with Lone Star at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 14th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] Lee Sang-gap, the Legal Affairs Director of the Ministry of Justice who was appointed during former Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae's tenure, has tendered his resignation. With Lee leaving the Ministry of Justice, the position of Legal Affairs Director is expected to be filled by a prosecutor-level official.

According to the legal community on the 18th, Lee recently expressed his intention to resign to the Ministry of Justice. He was selected in line with the Moon Jae-in administration's policy of 'de-prosecutorization' of the Ministry of Justice.

Since the establishment of the Human Rights Bureau in July 2006, the position had been held only by prosecutors, but from 2017, it was opened to non-prosecutor general civil servants or experts through competitive recruitment. Lee, who is from the Lawyers for a Democratic Society, was appointed as the second non-prosecutor Human Rights Director following Hwang Hee-seok, former Supreme Council Member of the Open Democratic Party.

In August last year, during former Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye's tenure, Lee was appointed as Legal Affairs Director and oversaw the lawsuit filed by President Yoon Suk-yeol, when he was Prosecutor General, against the Minister of Justice seeking cancellation of disciplinary actions.

Former Minister Chu had appointed Lee Ok-hyung, a former judge and Lee's younger brother, as the Ministry of Justice's representative in the lawsuit. However, after the regime change, concerns were raised that having the younger brother of the head of the relevant department represent the lawsuit might violate laws preventing conflicts of interest for public officials. Consequently, in June, the Ministry of Justice terminated the delegation contract and replaced the legal representative.