Lee Weighs Two Former Prosecutors for South Korea’s Justice Minister

President Lee Jae Myung is considering two ruling-party lawmakers with prosecutorial backgrounds for South Korea’s vacant justice minister post, according to a presidential office source, as his administration seeks to end a two-month gap in the Cabinet position.

The candidates under review are Park Kyoon-taek and Yang Bu-nam, both first-term lawmakers from the Democratic Party. The presidential office source said Lee had reached the choice after lengthy deliberation and that an official nomination was expected soon. No final selection had been announced.

The search follows the withdrawal of Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Seung-won, whom Lee nominated during a Cabinet reshuffle in late August. Kim went through a parliamentary confirmation hearing but withdrew his candidacy last month as controversy grew over several allegations, including claims that he had lobbied in connection with a COVID-19 treatment drug.

The failed nomination left the justice ministry without a permanent chief for about two months and increased the political weight of Lee’s next choice. The president is believed to be reviewing the candidates carefully while taking public sentiment into account.

Park and Yang both represent constituencies in Honam, the southwestern region regarded as a Democratic Party stronghold, and both previously worked as prosecutors. Their professional backgrounds could become central to debate over the nomination, particularly as questions about the president’s own legal cases remain politically contentious.

Park is among Democratic Party lawmakers who have called for criminal indictments against Lee to be dropped, arguing that the cases were brought by politically motivated prosecutors. Yang has also been closely involved in legal affairs surrounding Lee. He became a co-chair of the party’s legal affairs committee in 2022, when Lee was serving as party leader, and handled issues related to Lee’s legal cases.

The justice minister leads a portfolio that sits at the center of criminal justice policy and politically sensitive legal administration. The backgrounds and past positions of both lawmakers are therefore likely to draw close scrutiny if either is formally nominated.

For now, the reported shortlist signals that Lee is looking within the ruling party and toward former prosecutors after the collapse of his earlier nomination. The next step will be a formal announcement from the presidential office, followed by the parliamentary review process for the selected nominee.