President Lee Jae-myung Withdraws Education Minister Nominee Amid Opposition

On July 21, 2025, Moon Jin-seok (문진석), the Deputy Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (더불어민주당), commented on President Lee Jae-myung's (이재명) recent decision to withdraw the nomination of Lee Jin-sook (이진숙) as the Minister of Education. Moon stated that the president's action reflects a willingness to consider the opinions of the opposition, noting, 'No president has shown such a willingness before.'

In an interview with KBS Radio's 'Intensive Current Affairs' on the morning of the same day, Moon explained that during a meeting with the leaders of both ruling and opposition parties on July 19, President Lee listened to their concerns before retracting Lee Jin-sook's nomination. He emphasized that it was unprecedented for a president to consult with party leaders on personnel matters.

Moon also pointed out that the opposition has expressed a strong desire to block both Lee Jin-sook and Kang Sun-woo (강선우), the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family. While the opposition is pushing back against Kang's appointment, Moon urged respect for the president's decision-making authority.

He likened President Lee's withdrawal of Lee Jin-sook's nomination to a decisive military strategy, referencing Zhuge Liang's (제갈공명) historical decisions that led to victories in war. In contrast, he described the potential appointment of Kang as reminiscent of President Abraham Lincoln's trust in General Ulysses S. Grant, despite his struggles with alcoholism, which ultimately led to success in the Civil War.

Despite some dissent among Democratic Party aides regarding Kang's nomination, Moon noted that the prevailing sentiment within the party is to respect the president's appointment powers. He further stated that the president has sought understanding from both the public and the opposition regarding Kang's nomination, a gesture he believes has not been seen in previous administrations.

Moon criticized the opposition for not adopting the confirmation reports for certain ministerial nominees, suggesting that they should prioritize the president's appointment rights over stubbornness. He warned that if an agreement cannot be reached, the ruling party may have to proceed with the confirmation process independently.