President Lee Approves Dismissal of Joo Hyunhwan, Vice Chairman Appointed Under Yoon Administration

Resignation Tendered with Just Over a Month Left in Term
Yoo Cheolhwan, Head of Anti-Corruption Commission, Also Dismissed the Previous Day

On December 31, President Lee Jaemyung approved the dismissal of Joo Hyunhwan, Vice Chairman of the Low Birthrate and Aging Society Committee.

The Presidential Office announced this to the press in a statement released that afternoon.

Joo Hyunhwan, Chairman of the Low Birthrate and Aging Society Committee, is delivering an encouragement speech at the "2025 Women Leaders Forum" hosted by The Asia Business Daily at Lotte Hotel, Jung-gu, Seoul on November 6, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Vice Chairman Joo tendered his resignation to the Presidential Office in the morning, and his dismissal was approved later the same day. Appointed in February last year during the Yoon Sukyeol administration, Vice Chairman Joo's original term was set to run until mid-February next year.

Earlier this month, Vice Chairman Joo was notified by the Presidential Office that he was not eligible to attend Cabinet meetings, and he has been absent from such meetings since December 9.

He entered public service after passing the 26th Civil Service Examination, beginning his career at the Economic Planning Board's Fair Trade Division (now the Fair Trade Commission). He later served as the First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance and as Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy under the Park Geunhye administration.

Previously, Yoo Cheolhwan, Chairman of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, who was appointed during the Yoon Sukyeol administration, also submitted his resignation with one year remaining in his term, and his dismissal was approved the previous day.