President Lee’s Korea Policy Daily

[In-Depth] Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Kim Keon-hee: Background, Legal Reasoning & Political Fallout (August 13, 2025) This article synthesizes publicly reported information from Korean courts and major media. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 🔎 Quick Take Decision : The Seoul Central District Court issued an arrest warrant for Kim Keon-hee late on Aug 12–early Aug 13 (KST), citing risk of evidence tampering as a central factor. Core charges (as reported) : Alleged violations of the Capital Markets Act (stock manipulation context), Political Funds Act , and brokerage for bribery (alleged influence‑peddling). Key controversy : Discrepancies in statements around a high‑value accessory (often referred to as a “NATO trip necklace”) reportedly weighed into the court’s assessment of preservation risk . Political temperature : Opposition lawmakers broadly welcomed the decision; the ruling party adopted a cautious...

Kang Sun-woo Resigns as Minister of Gender Equality and Family Nominee (July 23, 2025) 📌 Nominee Kang Sun-woo Steps Down Before Appointment On July 23, 2025, Kang Sun-woo, who had been nominated as Minister of Gender Equality and Family, announced her voluntary resignation. The decision came amidst growing public scrutiny and media pressure during the vetting process. Kang informed Chief Presidential Secretary Kang Hoon-sik of her decision at 2:30 PM. The resignation was then promptly reported to President Lee Jae-myung. Roughly an hour later, Kang made a public announcement via her social media channels. 🔎 Background: Ministry Direction and Political Implications The resignation of Kang Sun-woo carries implications beyond a personnel change. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has long been a subject of political debate regarding its necessity and scope. Under the Lee administration, the ministry’s functions are being restructured, not abolished—making the fi...

Briefing on Chief Presidential Secretary Meeting (July 21, 2025) 📌 Summary of the Briefing by Spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung On the afternoon of July 21, 2025, a meeting of senior presidential aides was held, presided over by Chief Presidential Secretary Kang Hoon-sik. Spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung provided a briefing detailing the discussions, recent natural disaster responses, and upcoming government plans. 💬 “A Week That Highlighted Our Helplessness Before Nature” Chief Secretary Kang began by reflecting on the impact of the recent heavy rains, stating that "the past week has reminded us how powerless we are before nature" and emphasizing that in such times of crisis, the government must act as the last line of defense to protect its citizens. He urged swift recovery actions to provide solace to those affected by the floods. 🛠️ Ministers Actively Engaged in Field Responses Kang emphasized the administration’s on-site response: Prime Minister Kim Min-seok...

Briefing on Flood Damage Recovery by Presidential Office (July 21, 2025) 📌 Summary of the Presidential Office Briefing On July 21, 2025, Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung addressed the nation regarding the severe human casualties and damage caused by recent torrential rains. As extreme weather events become more common due to climate change, the need to overhaul and modernize disaster response systems has become urgent. 🌧️ Swift Government Response to Unprecedented Rainfall The Lee Jae-myung administration is actively reviewing the declaration of special disaster zones and the allocation of emergency funds through special grants. The central government has pledged to fulfill its duties and responsibilities swiftly and thoroughly to support flood recovery and disaster prevention efforts. 🏞️ Emphasis on Local Government Action The presidential office urged local governments to exert maximum efforts in both recovery and prevention. Given the increasing fre...

  [Presidential Briefing] President Lee Withdraws Nomination of Education Minister Nominee Lee Jin-sook (July 20, 2025) 📌 Senior Presidential Secretary Woo Sang-ho Announces Key Personnel Decision On July 20, 2025, Woo Sang-ho, Senior Secretary to the President for Political Affairs, held a media briefing to announce a significant update regarding ministerial appointments. This briefing reflects President Lee Jae-myung's continued commitment to responsible governance and transparent personnel decisions. Since taking office, President Lee has nominated a total of 19 candidates for ministerial posts. Among them, 17 underwent National Assembly confirmation hearings, and six were successfully appointed following the adoption of confirmation reports. 🗣️ Decision to Withdraw Education Minister Nominee After weeks of careful consideration and listening to a wide range of public and political voices, President Lee decided to withdraw the nomination of Lee Jin-sook, who had ...