Kim Seung-won, the nominee for justice minister, announced he was withdrawing his candidacy while pledging to "reveal the full picture of the targeted investigations by the Yoon Suk-yeol and Han Dong-hoon political prosecution, and of Han Dong-hoon's illegal leaking and splicing of investigative secrets, to the very end."
Kim held a news conference on the 19th at the National Assembly's press center to announce his resignation, saying: "I may step down from the post, but I will not give up on the truth. I will see the unfinished prosecution reform through to completion." He added that "this case is precisely the example that has proven to the public why prosecution reform is necessary." The remarks were directed at Rep. Han Dong-hoon, an independent lawmaker who has been on the offensive over allegations of influence-peddling in the approval of a COVID-19 drug clinical trial, which he has labeled the "oppa poison lobby."
Kim went on to say he would "work for the people with a lower and more humble attitude and do my utmost for the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration as a member of a government founded on popular sovereignty."
Han responded on Facebook, calling Kim's withdrawal "a victory for the people." "Lee Jae-myung's Democratic Party mounted an all-out, do-or-die defense of the oppa poison lobby, calling it 'an appointment that looks better the more you see it,' but the people won," he wrote. "I will keep my eyes only on the people and move forward together with everyone."
