Gender minister nominee withdraws candidacy as criticism mounts

Rep. Kang Sun-woo, the nominee for minister of gender equality and family, withdrew her candidacy Wednesday and issued a public apology to the administration, her party and the public over the allegations of her abuse of power.

“I sincerely apologize to the people who were hurt because of me,” Kang said in a posting on social media. “I am deeply sorry to President Lee Jae Myung, who trusted me and gave me this opportunity.”

She also expressed both gratitude and remorse toward the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), to which she belongs.

“I’ve caused a heavy burden to the party I love," she said. "I will always treasure the support and encouragement I’ve received, even in this difficult moment.”

While acknowledging her shortcomings, Kang noted that she had hoped to do her best in the role.

“It seems this is as far as I can go,” she said. “I humbly accept the criticism and will live with reflection.”

Her withdrawal came just a day before the deadline set by the president for the National Assembly to approve her nomination.

The decision follows mounting scrutiny over allegations that she bullied and mistreated parliamentary aides, a former minister and others in her professional orbit. The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) had strongly objected to her nomination, warning it would refuse to recognize her as gender minister if the appointment was forced through. Several major groups — including pro-government civic organizations and the parliamentary aides’ association — also issued sharp statements opposing her nomination.

Following Kang’s voluntary withdrawal, the presidential office said it will move fast to nominate another candidate for gender minister who aligns with public expectations.

"At around 2:30 p.m. today, the nominee informed presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik of her decision to step down, which was then reported to the president. About an hour after notifying the presidential office, she announced her withdrawal through her personal social media account," presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung told reporters at a press briefing later in the day.

When asked whether there had been prior communication between the former minister nominee and the presidential office regarding her decision, the spokesperson said, “I wasn’t aware of her decision to step down, and to my knowledge, senior presidential secretary for political affairs Woo Sang-ho did not coordinate the matter with the National Assembly either.”

She added that the president did not offer any specific remarks when his chief of staff briefed him on Kang's decision.

Kang’s withdrawal marks the first time since confirmation hearings for Cabinet nominees were introduced in 2005 that a sitting member of the Assembly has failed to take office as a minister.

This was the second ministerial nomination to fall through under the Lee administration, following the withdrawal of Lee Jin-sook's nomination for education minister earlier in the week over her thesis plagiarism allegation. Kang's withdrawal comes exactly 30 days after her nomination.