President Lee Jae Myung Nominates 'Seongnam Line' Lee Yong-cheol as Justice Minister
The Chosun Ilbo · Park Sang-ki ·
President Lee Jae Myung Nominates Seongnam Line Lee Yong-cheol as Justice Minister Opposition Condemns Appointment, Citing Ties to Daejang-dong Development Scandal and Personnel Abuse
President Lee Jae Myung nominated Lee Yong-cheol, 66 years old, head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, as the new Minister of Justice nominee on the 6th. Lee, an alumnus of the law firm Saegil where President Lee previously worked, is classified as part of the "Seongnam Line," a core group of close aides to the president.
Lee, a native of Sunchang, North Jeolla Province, is a 21st-term graduate of the Judicial Research and Training Institute. He was active in civil society through organizations such as Lawyers for a Democratic Society (Minbyun) and the Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice (CCEJ). He served as secretary-general of a group of lawyers defending former President Roh Moo-hyun and held positions including legal secretary and civil affairs secretary at Cheong Wa Dae during Roh’s administration, as well as deputy head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration.
Lee was affiliated with Saegil, a law firm based in Seongnam, before President Lee became mayor of Seongnam. He served as a transition committee member for President Lee when he was elected mayor in 2010 and later as head of the Seongnam Industry Promotion Foundation in 2011. After President Lee took office in June last year, Lee was appointed head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration in November of the same year.
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