Kang Sunwoo and Lee Jinsook Nominees Ultimately Step Down
President Lee Relieved of Burden to Push Through Appointments
Repeated Failures in High-Level Vetting...
Additional Appointments Needed for Gender Equality and Education Ministers
Kang Sunwoo, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, who had been embroiled in various controversies including allegations of mistreatment of aides and false explanations during her confirmation hearing, ultimately resigned voluntarily on July 23. With Kang stepping down on her own, President Lee Jaemyung is temporarily relieved of the political burden of having to push through her appointment despite negative public opinion. However, as a series of high-level officials have failed to be appointed in the early days of the Lee Jaemyung administration, criticism that there are fundamental flaws in the personnel vetting system has become unavoidable.
Kang Sunwoo, nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, is taking the oath at the confirmation hearing held by the National Assembly's Gender Equality and Family Committee on July 14, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
Kang's resignation marks the third failed high-level appointment since the start of the Lee Jaemyung administration. Previously, Oh Gwangsu, the first Senior Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs, resigned just four days after his appointment due to allegations of holding real estate under borrowed names. Lee Jinsook, the nominee for Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, had her nomination withdrawn following controversies over plagiarism and her child's illegal overseas studies. There have also been failures at the secretary level. Kang Junwook, former Secretary for National Unity at the Presidential Office, ultimately resigned voluntarily after issues arose regarding his past remarks defending emergency martial law under former President Yoon Sukyeol and his advocacy of the colonial modernization theory. The exposure of inadequate personnel vetting even among key presidential aides has highlighted the system's vulnerabilities.
Kang's voluntary resignation came unexpectedly, just one day before the deadline for resubmitting her confirmation hearing report, which was scheduled for July 24. At around 2:30 p.m. on July 23, she conveyed her intention to resign to Chief of Staff Kang Hunsik. About an hour and twenty minutes later, at 3:50 p.m., she posted on her social networking service (SNS), "I sincerely apologize to the people who have been hurt because of me," and added, "I wanted to do my best, but it seems this is as far as I could go." She continued, "I am endlessly sorry to President Lee Jaemyung, who trusted me and gave me this opportunity," and mentioned, "I have also placed a heavy burden on our beloved Democratic Party of Korea, who stood by me in the rain."
As a result, President Lee is now able to avoid the controversy over pushing through the appointment. However, the repeated failures of high-level officials and presidential aides can ultimately be traced back to the lax personnel vetting system within the presidential office. The issues surrounding Oh's real estate allegations, Lee's plagiarism and child's overseas studies controversy, and Kang's case were all problems that could have been sufficiently prevented in advance if only the basic vetting procedures had been properly followed.
In light of Kang's failed appointment, the presidential office has belatedly acknowledged the need to overhaul its personnel vetting system. Initially, the office insisted that there were no issues with the personnel system, but on this day stated, "We will strengthen the rigor of the vetting process along with its speed to ensure a more cautious approach." Spokesperson Kang, when asked about the system's vulnerabilities, said, "Although we are conducting the vetting process thoroughly and rigorously, there are areas to review in order to find candidates and appointees who meet public expectations through more diverse methods," and added, "We will approach the process more cautiously in line with public opinion and ensure greater rigor in personnel procedures."
With Kang's resignation, President Lee must now proceed with appointing new nominees for the Minister of Education and the Minister of Gender Equality and Family. To complete the cabinet quickly, the process must also move swiftly. A ruling party official stated, "With both nominees who were the focus of the opposition's criticism now withdrawn, we have gained grounds to actively request cooperation for the appointment of the remaining nominees," and added, "To stabilize the cabinet, which was launched without a transition committee, additional appointments must also proceed quickly." Meanwhile, this is the first time in 25 years since the introduction of the confirmation hearing system that a sitting member of the National Assembly has failed to be appointed as a minister.
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