▲ Education Minister nominee Lee Jin-sook attends a parliamentary confirmation hearing at the National Assembly in Seoul on July 16, 2025. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) Lee-education minister nominee

(LEAD) Lee withdraws nomination for education minister nominee

(ATTN: ADDS details on gender minister nominee)

SEOUL, July 20 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung has decided to withdraw his nomination of Education Minister nominee Lee Jin-sook, the presidential office said Sunday, following allegations of unlawfully sending her daughter to study abroad at an early age.

Taking into consideration various opinions, the president deeply reviewed the nomination, presidential secretary for political affairs Woo Sang-ho told a press briefing, calling for the National Assembly to swiftly take follow-up measures.

Lee's second daughter, now 33, was sent to study in the United States in 2007, when she was in her third year of middle school, in violation of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act that stipulates compulsory education up to middle school.

During her confirmation hearing, Lee, an architecture professor, said she was "sincerely sorry" but emphasized that she was not aware at the time that her actions violated the law.

She also faced allegations of academic plagiarism but dismissed such a claim, saying that media reports were based on a misunderstanding of the academic context.

The presidential office, meanwhile, did not mention the president's remarks on Gender Equality Minister nominee Kang Sun-woo, who has also faced public scrutiny over workplace abuse allegations involving former parliamentary aides.

When asked whether Lee will push ahead with the appointment of Kang, the presidential secretary said the president has only withdrawn his nomination for the education minister nominee.

"It is well understood there have been various opinions but I hope the public understands the decision was made through a comprehensive review," Woo said.

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