Politics · South Korea · 8 hrs ago
Lee Yong-cheol nominated as South Korea's justice minister
President Lee Jae Myung nominated Lee Yong-cheol as South Korea's justice minister on Nov.
6.
Lee has led the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, the state agency responsible for defense procurement, since November last year.
He is a former lawyer with experience in legal and defense administration, including work in the presidential office and preparations to launch the procurement agency.
Lee says he will complete prosecution reform and help put a substantially changed criminal justice system into practice.
The changes are taking place as South Korea launches the Prosecution Service and the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency.
His nomination comes during a major overhaul of criminal justice, but the sources do not say what happens next in the appointment process.
President Lee Jae Myung nominated Defense Acquisition Program Administration chief Lee Yong-cheol as South Korea’s justice minister on Nov. 6.
Lee said he would complete prosecution reform and help the new criminal justice system take root.
He has held legal and defense-sector posts, including serving as a presidential secretary and leading preparations for the launch of the defense procurement agency.
Lee worked with Lee Jae Myung at a law firm and served on his transition committee after he was elected mayor of Seongnam.
- Who
- Lee Yong-cheol, head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, was nominated.
- What
- He was nominated as South Korea’s justice minister.
- When
- Nov. 6, 2026.
- Where
- South Korea. The announcement was made at the presidential office in Seoul.
- Why
- The sources do not state the president’s specific reason for choosing him. Lee said he would advance prosecution reform and help implement the new criminal justice system.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Lee passed the bar exam and worked as a lawyer.
Lee led preparations for the launch of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration as deputy chief of a preparatory committee.
Lee served on Lee Jae Myung’s transition committee after he was elected mayor of Seongnam.
Lee was appointed head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration.
President Lee Jae Myung nominated Lee as justice minister.
- Nominee
- Lee Yong-cheol
- Nomination date
- Nov. 6, 2026
- Current post
- Head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration
- Bar exam
- Passed in 1989
- Agency preparations
- Led preparations for its launch in 2006
- Seongnam transition committee
- Served in 2010
7 sources
李, 법무장관에 ‘성남 라인’ 이용철 방사청장 지명
李, 이용철 방사청장을 법무장관 후보로 지명
(LEAD) (profile) Justice minister nominee versatile in legal, defense fields
What people are saying
I feel a heavy sense of responsibility at being nominated as the justice minister to lead judicial affairs at this critical time, as the Prosecution Service and the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency are being launched and the criminal justice system is undergoing a major overhaul.
I will complete prosecution reform without disruption and work to ensure the new criminal justice system takes root quickly.