Politics · South Korea · 12 hrs ago
South Korea’s parties clash over justice minister nominee Lee Yong-cheol
South Korea nominated Defense Acquisition Program Administration chief Lee Yong-cheol as justice minister.
The conservative People Power Party alleges that Lee’s role in a 2010 hiring interview links him to the Daejang-dong case.
The allegation concerns Yoo Dong-gyu, later a key figure in the case, whom Lee reportedly gave a high interview score for a post at Seongnam’s facilities management corporation.
The Democratic Party says the interview was five years before private developers were selected and before the Daejang-dong project had been planned.
It also says all five committee members ranked Yoo first and describes Lee as an experienced lawyer with government and justice-policy experience.
The opposition calls the nomination a “shield” appointment and wants it withdrawn, while the ruling party warns that false claims could bring legal responsibility.
South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party and opposition People Power Party clashed over justice minister nominee Lee Yong-cheol.
The Democratic Party defended Lee as an experienced legal figure suited to the post.
The People Power Party called his nomination a “shielding appointment” tied to the Seongnam network and demanded its withdrawal.
The dispute centers partly on Lee’s role in a 2010 selection process involving Yoo Dong-gyu, later a key figure in the Daejang-dong scandal.
The Democratic Party said that process took place before the Daejang-dong project was conceived and warned the opposition of possible legal responsibility for false claims.
- Who
- Justice minister nominee Lee Yong-cheol, the Democratic Party and the People Power Party.
- What
- The parties clashed over Lee’s nomination, with the opposition demanding its withdrawal and the ruling party defending him.
- When
- November 7 and 8, 2026.
- Where
- South Korea.
- Why
- The opposition raised concerns about Lee’s connection to Yoo Dong-gyu and the Daejang-dong scandal; the ruling party said the 2010 selection process predated the project.
Democratic Party
People Power Party
Lee’s suitability
Democratic Party
The party described Lee as an experienced legal professional fit to lead the Justice Ministry and advance prosecution reform.
People Power Party
The party called his nomination a “shielding appointment” linked to the Seongnam network and demanded its withdrawal.
Daejang-dong allegations
Democratic Party
The party said Lee’s participation in a 2010 hiring process was no evidence of involvement in a project conceived later.
People Power Party
The party cited Lee’s role in Yoo Dong-gyu’s selection process in raising concerns about his connection to the scandal.
The Democratic Party rejected the People Power Party’s allegations about Lee and defended his qualifications.
The parties continued their dispute, with the Democratic Party calling Lee a legal veteran and the People Power Party demanding that his nomination be withdrawn.
- Nominee
- Lee Yong-cheol
- Current post
- Head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration
- Alleged hiring process
- 2010 selection of Yoo Dong-gyu for a planning executive post at the Seongnam Facilities Management Corporation
- Democratic Party’s claim
- The Daejang-dong project had not yet been conceived in 2010
- Published dates
- November 7 and 8, 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
An allegation is not a pardon.
The People Power Party should bear in mind that it may face serious legal responsibility if it damages the nominee’s reputation with false claims.
legal veteran
a shielding appointment for the Gyeonggi Seongnam network