Story perspectives

President Lee Won’t Yet Decide Kang Resignation

By Drooid · Sep 21, 2026, 2:59 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik offered to resign, citing overall responsibility for personnel failures.
President Lee Jae Myung said he has not yet decided whether to accept Kang’s resignation.
The resignation followed withdrawals of gender-equality minister nominee Yong Hye-in on Sept 13 and justice minister nominee Kim Seung-won on Sept 19.
Lee’s approval rating rose 1 point to 34.8 % in a Realmeter poll on Sept 21, his first rise in ten weeks.

History

Historical Context

October 2016 exposed President Park Geun-hye’s confidante Choi Soon-sil accessing state documents and extorting KRW77.4 billion from chaebols, sparking protests and 78 % public support for impeachment. The National Assembly voted impeachment on 9 December 2016 and the Constitutional Court upheld it on 10 March 2017, leading to Moon Jae-in’s election. Now President Lee Jae-Myung’s chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik has resigned, echoing that crisis.

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Story summary

Chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik offered to resign, citing overall responsibility for personnel failures.
President Lee Jae Myung said he has not yet decided whether to accept Kang’s resignation.
The resignation followed withdrawals of gender-equality minister nominee Yong Hye-in on Sept 13 and justice minister nominee Kim Seung-won on Sept 19.
Lee’s approval rating rose 1 point to 34.8 % in a Realmeter poll on Sept 21, his first rise in ten weeks.

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