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Lee dismisses education commission chief over bribery allegations

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By Yonhap
  • Published KST
A special investigation team raids the National Education Commission's office in Seoul, Sept. 5, in relation to bribery allegations involving the commission head, Lee Bae-yong. Yonhap

A special investigation team raids the National Education Commission's office in Seoul, Sept. 5, in relation to bribery allegations involving the commission head, Lee Bae-yong. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung has dismissed Lee Bae-yong, head of the National Education Commission, the presidential office said Tuesday, amid allegations she secured her post through bribery.

The president approved her resignation Monday evening, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a press notice.

The commission chief offered to resign last week over allegations that she gifted a golden turtle ornament to former first lady Kim Keon Hee after ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol's election win in March 2022 in hope of securing a senior government post.

The bribery allegations emerged after a special probe team searched the home of former first lady Kim's mother in connection with a real estate development scandal and discovered the golden ornament along with a letter Lee Bae-yong had written to Yoon and Kim.