Insubordinate silence greeted questions regarding a potential withdrawal of indictments, as Ministry of Justice nominee Lee Yong-chul declined to clarify his stance late Tuesday.
- Nominee Lee Yong-chul stated he would organize his position and speak later when asked about canceling the indictment of President Lee Jae-myung.
- Chosun.com reported that critics from the People Power Party have characterized the selection as an appointment specifically designed to drop the charges.
- Former Acting Justice Minister Lee Jin-soo previously testified in parliament that the previous minister had made it clear the ministry would not order a case-specific indictment withdrawal.
The nominee shares past professional ties with the president, having worked at the same law firm and participated in municipal transition teams.
| Official / Figure | Role / Affiliation | Stated Position or Allegation |
|---|---|---|
| Lee Yong-chul | Ministry of Justice Nominee | Stated he will organize his position later regarding indictment cancellations. |
| Lee Jin-soo | Former Acting Justice Minister | Previously testified that the ministry has no plans to order an indictment withdrawal. |
| Yoo Dong-gyu | Former Seongnam Development Corp. Executive | Claimed Lee supported his appointment and would follow directives without hesitation. |
Nominee Lee previously served as the inaugural deputy administrator of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration under the Roh Moo-hyun administration and was appointed to head the agency in November of last year. Chosun.com noted that Lee dismissed concerns over his personal ties to the president, stating that he was a pioneer in early prosecution reform initiatives.
Preparation for confirmation hearings is currently underway, with a support team established under the direction of Cha Beom-jun, head of the Ministry of Justice planning and coordination bureau.
Yoo Dong-gyu, a central figure in the Daejang-dong development scandal, asserted in a YouTube appearance that Lee strongly backed his appointment to the Seongnam Development Corporation in 2010. Chosun.com reported that Yoo described Lee as someone who executes orders without hesitation and suggested he would act as the primary actor if an indictment withdrawal is pursued following special counsel reviews.
In response to these claims, Lee told Chosun.com that there were only two applicants for the position at the time and that all five committee members gave high scores to Yoo. Lee added that he received no requests from the president regarding Yoo’s hiring and that he remains unfamiliar with the details of the Daejang-dong case.
