President Lee Approves Dismissal of Commissioner Lee Wankyu Over 'Samcheong-dong Safe House Meeting'

Resignation Letter Submitted on the 2nd of Last Month, Dismissal Approved on the 4th...
"Formal Approval Process Followed After Expression of Intent to Resign"
Special Investigation Team Probes Nature of Samcheong-dong Safe House Meeting on Insurrection

President Lee Jaemyung has approved the dismissal of Lee Wankyu, Commissioner of the Ministry of Government Legislation, who was appointed under the Yoon Sukyeol administration. It is reported that Lee submitted his resignation letter on the 2nd of last month.

Lee Wankyu, Commissioner of the Ministry of Government Legislation, is speaking at the plenary session of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly on April 9, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Kang Yujeong, spokesperson for the presidential office, held a briefing at the Yongsan presidential office on the morning of the 5th and stated, "Commissioner Lee has already submitted his resignation, and he was dismissed yesterday (the 4th)." Kang added, "We need to confirm the reason, but he expressed his intention to resign, and now the dismissal has been formally approved through the proper procedure."

Former Commissioner Lee submitted his resignation on the 2nd of last month, ahead of the presidential election, and President Lee approved the dismissal plan the previous day.

Former Commissioner Lee was nominated as a Constitutional Court justice candidate last April, when Han Ducksoo was serving as acting president, but President Lee withdrew the nomination on the 5th of last month.

Commissioner Lee attended a meeting at the Samcheong-dong safe house the day after the 12·3 Martial Law Declaration, along with former Senior Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs Kim Juhyun, former Minister of Justice Park Jeongjae, and former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sangmin. The participants claim it was merely a social gathering, but the special investigation team on insurrection suspects that the meeting at the safe house was held to review the illegality of the martial law and to discuss ways to meet the legal requirements for the martial law declaration after the fact, and is continuing its investigation.