Kim Seung-won withdrew Saturday as President Lee Jae Myung's nominee for justice minister — just one day after Lee said at a Friday press conference that he had "not yet reached a final decision" on whether to proceed with the appointment and would take public sentiment into account.
Kim held a press conference at the National Assembly's communication center Saturday morning and announced he had decided to step down from the nomination. "I am grateful to the president for nominating me, and I am truly sorry for failing to live up to his expectations," he said.
Kim said he made up his mind after watching Lee's press conference on Friday. "The lives of the people and the success of the government come first," he said. "I concluded that I should no longer add to the burden of a government that must tend to people's livelihoods and complete its reform agenda."
He added that he accepted "with great solemnity" that he had fallen short of the public's expectations and would reflect deeply on his shortcomings. "I extend my sincere apologies especially to people with disabilities and their families who may have been hurt by this episode, to those who have devoted themselves to caregiving, and to everyone whose lives have intersected with mine," he said.
Kim made clear, however, that he would continue to pursue the truth regarding the various allegations surrounding him. "Even as I step down now, I will not give up on the truth," he said, adding that he would "without fail" complete what he called the unfinished reform of the prosecution service.
He also said he would expose the full extent of what he described as politically motivated investigations by "the Yoon Suk Yeol–Han Dong-hoon political prosecution," as well as Han Dong-hoon's alleged illegal leaking and manipulation of investigative secrets. "I believe this episode has proven to the public the necessity of prosecutorial reform," he said.
Kim had faced mounting pressure from opposition lawmakers to withdraw over allegations that he had lobbied for approval of a COVID-19 treatment clinical trial and that a social cooperative led by his spouse had received preferential treatment. He had repeatedly denied the allegations.
"I will work for the people with an even more humble and modest attitude, and as a member of the people's sovereignty government I will do my utmost for the success of the Lee Jae Myung administration," Kim said.
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