Seoul, June 4
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on Wednesday turned down resignation offers from Cabinet members except for Justice Minister Park Sung-jae to ensure continuity in state affairs, the presidential office said.
Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Lee Ju-ho, who had served as acting President, conveyed the Cabinet's collective intention to resign during a phone call with the new President on his first day in office. However, President Lee accepted only Park's resignation.
"President Lee decided to decline the resignation offers by Cabinet members except for Minister Park, stressing the continuity in state affairs," presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung told a briefing.
Lee took office one day after his election without a transition period following an election called early to pick a successor to former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was ousted over his failed martial law bid in December, news agency reported.
His decision reflects the need to maintain a functioning government, as a majority of the 21 Cabinet members are required to meet the quorum for convening Cabinet meetings. Forming a new Cabinet could take weeks, given the requirement for parliamentary confirmation hearings.
All Cabinet members appointed by Yoon submitted their resignations to the Ministry of Personnel Management on Monday, a day before the election.