Kim Seung-won announced on the 19th that he was withdrawing his nomination for justice minister, about 20 days after being named. He said watching President Lee Jae-myung's press conference firmed up his decision.

The immediate background was the so-called drug-approval lobbying allegation. According to reports, prosecution investigation records state that in October 2021 he asked the head of the food and drug safety ministry to expedite approval of a COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial, acting solely on a broker's request.

Seoul's Yeongdeungpo police station has taken over the case, which prosecutors had closed with a suspended indictment, and is reviewing whether to reinvestigate. The allegations therefore remain unresolved after the withdrawal.

A former aide added to the list on the 17th, submitting a petition to the presidential office alleging the covering up of sexual harassment, a further drunk-driving incident and verbal abuse. A separate investigation into how records were leaked is running in parallel.

The governing party defended the nominee through the confirmation hearing but could not turn public opinion around. After the withdrawal, calls to overhaul the vetting process resurfaced within the party.

The vacancy at the justice ministry is compounded by the calendar. With a reorganization of the prosecution service taking effect next month, observers warn that the longer a successor takes, the greater the practical confusion.