Seoul: President Lee Jae-myung on Wednesday declined resignation offers from all Cabinet members except Justice Minister Park Sung-jae, aiming to ensure continuity in state affairs, as announced by the presidential office.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Lee Ju-ho, who had been serving as acting president, communicated the Cabinet's collective intention to resign during a phone call with President Lee on his first day in office. However, President Lee accepted only the resignation of Justice Minister Park.
Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung stated in a briefing, "President Lee decided to decline the resignation offers by Cabinet members except for Minister Park, stressing the continuity in state affairs." Lee assumed office immediately after his election, without a transition period, following an early election to replace former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was ousted due to his unsuccessful martial law attempt in December.
The decision underscores the importance of maintaining a functioning government, as a majority of the 21 Cabinet members are required to meet the quorum for Cabinet meetings. Establishing a new Cabinet could require several weeks due to the need for parliamentary confirmation hearings.
All Cabinet members appointed by former President Yoon submitted their resignations to the Ministry of Personnel Management on Monday, preceding the election by a day. Justice Minister Park, a close ally of Yoon, faced impeachment over allegations tied to the former president's martial law decree, which the Constitutional Court overturned in April.