Lee Jae-myung's First Cabinet Hearings: Who Made It Through the Storm?

The Turbulent Start of Lee's Cabinet Formation

Did you know that President Lee Jae-myung's first cabinet confirmation hearings became one of the most controversial political events in recent South Korean history? From July 14 to 18, 2025, the National Assembly conducted what many called a "super week" of hearings that examined 16 cabinet nominees and one National Tax Service director candidate. What was supposed to be a thorough vetting process turned into a political battlefield that exposed deep divisions in Korean society.

The confirmation hearings, designed to verify the qualifications, morality, and policy capabilities of high-ranking nominees, instead became a stage for political warfare. Critics argued that the process lacked substantial verification and devolved into partisan bickering rather than meaningful scrutiny. The hearings were marred by incomplete document submissions, failed witness adoptions, and heated exchanges between ruling and opposition parties.

For international observers trying to understand Korean politics, these hearings represent more than just bureaucratic procedures - they're a window into the country's democratic processes and the intense scrutiny public officials face. The fact that these hearings can make or break political careers shows how seriously Korea takes governmental accountability, even when the process becomes messy.

Who Actually Passed the Confirmation Gauntlet?

The results of the hearings were mixed, with clear winners and losers emerging from the political chaos. On July 18, the National Assembly adopted confirmation hearing reports for five key nominees: Koo Yun-cheol for Finance Minister, Cho Hyun for Foreign Minister, Kim Jung-kwan for Trade and Industry Minister, Yoon Ho-jung for Interior Minister, and Jung Sung-ho for Justice Minister.

Four of these candidates - Finance, Foreign Affairs, Trade and Industry, and Interior ministers - received bipartisan support. The opposition People Power Party agreed not to block appointments in economic, diplomatic, and trade sectors, considering national interests in US trade negotiations. They also supported the Interior Minister nominee due to urgent disaster response needs following recent flooding.

However, Justice Minister nominee Jung Sung-ho faced a different fate. The People Power Party requested postponement of his confirmation report adoption, citing issues related to special prosecutor investigations, but the ruling Democratic Party rejected this and proceeded with a unilateral vote. The vote passed 10-7, with all People Power Party members voting against and Democratic Party plus Cho Kuk Innovation Party members supporting the nomination. This partisan split highlighted the deep political divisions that continue to plague Korean politics.

The Ministers Who Actually Got Appointed

As of July 21, six new ministers had been officially appointed out of 18 nominees. The first to be confirmed was Bae Kyung-hoon as Minister of Science and ICT. The National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee adopted his confirmation hearing report on July 15 through bipartisan agreement, and President Lee approved his appointment on July 16. Bae, former head of LG AI Research, is an AI expert who led the development of the hyperscale artificial intelligence 'EXAONE'.

Yoon Ho-jung was appointed as Interior Minister on July 19. His report was also adopted through bipartisan consensus, with the opposition agreeing due to the critical nature of disaster response responsibilities. Yoon began his first official duties on July 20 by chairing a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting to manage nationwide heavy rain situations.

Koo Yun-cheol (Finance), Cho Hyun (Foreign Affairs), and Kim Jung-kwan (Trade and Industry) were officially appointed on July 18, joining Lee Jae-myung's inaugural cabinet. Even Jung Sung-ho, the controversial Justice Minister nominee whom the People Power Party opposed, was appointed the same day. Additionally, Song Mi-ryeong was retained as Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs from the previous administration.

The Plagiarism Scandal That Ended a Career

The most dramatic moment of the confirmation hearings came with the withdrawal of Lee Jin-sook, the education minister nominee, following plagiarism allegations. President Lee Jae-myung announced on July 20 that he was withdrawing her nomination, making her the first cabinet candidate to fall during his administration.

The scandal centered on accusations that Lee Jin-sook, a former architecture professor and president of Chungnam National University, had plagiarized her student's thesis. According to a detailed analysis by opposition People Power Party Rep. Joo Jin-woo, about half of Lee's paper had been copied from her student's work, with some paragraphs matching exactly. "This isn't your typical academic plagiarism. The education minister nominee abused her authority as a professor to rip off her student's paper. This is easily a crime of abuse of power," Joo stated.

During the hearings, Lee Jin-sook denied the plagiarism allegations, claiming it was "first author notation based on science and engineering research practices". However, her responses to basic education policy questions raised additional concerns about her competence. She couldn't state the legally mandated number of school days in a year and gave inconsistent answers about kindergarten and daycare integration. The combination of ethical concerns and policy ignorance ultimately sealed her fate, forcing President Lee to withdraw her nomination following "comprehensive reviews and consultations with leaders from both ruling and opposition parties".

The Workplace Abuse Controversy That Won't Die

While Lee Jin-sook's nomination was withdrawn, another controversial nominee remains in contention despite fierce opposition. Rep. Kang Sun-woo, nominated for Gender Equality and Family Minister, faces allegations of workplace abuse and power harassment known in Korea as "gapjil". The presidential office has indicated it plans to proceed with her appointment despite widespread criticism.

Kang is accused of making aides run personal errands and abusing her power during her time as a lawmaker. For someone nominated to head a ministry focused on gender equality and human rights, these allegations are particularly damaging. The controversy has sparked condemnation from civil society groups, women's organizations, opposition parties, and even factions within the ruling party.

Over 90 women's organizations have expressed disapproval of her nomination, yet the presidential office has remained steadfast. When questioned about the widespread criticism, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung offered no substantive response, merely repeating requests for National Assembly approval. The People Power Party has declared that even if Kang is appointed through presidential determination, they "will not recognize her as minister". This standoff represents a significant challenge to President Lee's early presidency and highlights the ongoing tensions in Korean gender politics.

Public Opinion and the End of the Honeymoon Period

The cabinet confirmation controversies have taken a toll on President Lee Jae-myung's approval ratings, signaling a potential end to his political honeymoon period. According to a Realmeter poll conducted from July 14-18, Lee's approval rating dropped to 62.2%, down 2.4 percentage points from the previous week. This marked the first decline in the new president's approval rating since his inauguration on June 4.

The timing of the poll coincided with the confirmation hearings for the most controversial nominees, particularly Kang Sun-woo and Lee Jin-sook. Korean online communities have been buzzing with criticism of the appointments. On platforms like Nate Pann and DC Inside, users expressed frustration with what they saw as a failure of the vetting process. Comments ranged from disappointment about the lack of proper scrutiny to broader concerns about the president's judgment in personnel selection.

International observers have noted that these controversies reflect broader issues in Korean politics, where personal integrity and academic credentials carry enormous weight. The fact that plagiarism allegations could derail a ministerial nomination shows how seriously Korean society takes educational ethics, particularly given the country's intense focus on academic achievement. For foreign audiences trying to understand Korean political culture, these hearings demonstrate that in Korea, personal conduct and professional competence are inseparable when it comes to public service.

What This Means for Lee's Presidency Moving Forward

The cabinet confirmation process has revealed both the strengths and weaknesses of Korean democratic institutions. While the system successfully weeded out an unqualified nominee in Lee Jin-sook's case, it also highlighted the partisan nature of the confirmation process. The People Power Party labeled five nominees as "unqualified" and demanded their withdrawal, including Kang Sun-woo, Chung Dong-young (Unification), Kwon Oh-eul (Veterans Affairs), and Kim Young-hoon (Labor).

Looking ahead, President Lee faces the challenge of rebuilding public trust while completing his cabinet formation. Two nominees still await hearings: Kim Yun-deok for Land and Transport Minister (scheduled for July 29) and Choi Hwi-young for Culture and Tourism Minister (date undetermined). The president's handling of these remaining appointments will be closely watched as indicators of whether he's learned from the earlier controversies.

For Korea's international partners, these developments matter because they affect policy continuity and government effectiveness. The successful appointment of key economic and diplomatic ministers suggests that core policy areas will remain stable, but ongoing controversies over other positions could distract from governance. The cabinet formation process has also demonstrated the robust nature of Korean democracy, where public scrutiny and media attention can force accountability even at the highest levels of government. Whether this translates into better governance or merely political theater remains to be seen as the Lee administration settles into its governing rhythm.