Lee Jong-chul, nominee for Minister of Justice, declined to rule out dropping the indictment of President Lee Jae-myung on November 8, stating that he will organize his position and speak later, chosun.com reported.
The nomination arrives amid scrutiny over whether the selection serves specifically to halt the ongoing prosecution. Responding to a telephone inquiry from the publication regarding criticism that the appointment functions as an “indictment-cancellation personnel move,” the nominee offered no denial, leaving open the possibility of dropping the case.
- Nominee Lee Jong-chul stated he will organize his stance later regarding the prosecution cancellation issue.
- Preceding acting minister Lee Jin-su testified in October that the previous minister had no intention to direct prosecution cancellations in specific cases.
Previously, on October 8, then-Ministry of Justice acting chief Lee Jin-su told a National Assembly audit that the previous minister, Jung Sung-ho, made it clear the ministry would not order prosecution cancellations through specific case directives. That prior position stands in sharp contrast to the nominee’s current refusal to dismiss the option, fueling speculation of a policy reversal.
Nominee Lee shares professional ties with President Lee Jae-myung from their time at Saegil Law Firm. When asked by chosun.com about potential conflicts regarding his ties to the President, the nominee questioned whether personal closeness constitutes a disqualifying factor for a ministerial post.
Addressing the appointment directly, the nominee told chosun.com that he has neither met nor spoken directly with the President. He added that he handled the initial agenda of prosecutorial reform during the Roh Moo-hyun administration, suggesting the appointment reflects the President’s view that the person who handled the alpha of reform should now handle the omega.
| Key Figure | Associated Role | Stated Position or Allegation |
|---|---|---|
| Lee Jong-chul | Minister of Justice Nominee | Declined to rule out dropping the indictment, stating he will clarify his position later. |
| Lee Jin-su | Former Justice Ministry Acting Chief | Stated in October that the ministry had no intent to direct case cancellations. |
| Yoo Dong-gyu | Former Seongnam Development Corp. Executive | Claimed the nominee strongly supported him and participated in poker games with high stakes. |
Yoo Dong-gyu, a figure in the Daejang-dong development scandal, appeared on a YouTube channel on November 6 to make several claims, complicating the political situation around the nomination. Yoo asserted that nominee Lee strongly supported his high evaluation during candidate screenings, stating he achieved top placement through that backing.
Yoo also alleged that he and the nominee played poker with stakes totaling around 2 million won at a restaurant in Gogi-ri valley, Yongin, adding that the nominee enjoys drinking.
Questions regarding the nominee’s involvement in Yoo’s 2010 appointment as an executive at the Seongnam Facilities Management Corporation, the predecessor to the Seongnam Development Corporation, first surfaced during the 2005-2021 Daejang-dong scandal inquiries. Opposition figures in the People Power Party pointed to those events to label the nominee as a hidden designer of the Daejang-dong project.
Addressing those allegations, the nominee told chosun.com that only two applicants applied at the time and all five committee members gave Yoo high scores. He stated that he received no requests from President Lee Jae-myung regarding Yoo’s appointment. The nominee also maintained that he knows little about the Daejang-dong case, saying he does not closely read newspaper accounts covering the matter.
