South Korea justice nominee withdraws as Lee faces mounting cabinet crisis

SEOUL — President Lee Jae Myung's nominee for justice minister withdrew from consideration on Saturday, dealing another blow to the administration as it struggles with declining public support.

The withdrawal represents the second cabinet pick to step aside this month, compounding challenges for the South Korean leader as his approval ratings slide. The successive rejections underscore mounting difficulties in assembling a functional cabinet amid political headwinds.

The repeated setbacks come at a critical time for the administration. Cabinet appointments typically signal a president's policy direction and governing capacity, making multiple withdrawals a visible sign of political weakness.

The declining approval ratings suggest public dissatisfaction with the administration's performance or direction. Cabinet vacancies can hamper policy implementation and create uncertainty about key government functions, particularly the justice portfolio which oversees significant regulatory and legal matters.

No official reason for the withdrawal was immediately disclosed, though such withdrawals typically follow public controversy or concern about a nominee's qualifications or background.