Chairperson Lee Seok-yeon of the Presidential Committee for National Integration said on the 3rd that he would resign as chairperson of the presidential committee, saying, "I have learned that this administration's thinking and philosophy on national integration are very different from mine."
Chairperson Lee served as head of the Ministry of Government Legislation under the Lee Myung-bak administration and was appointed chairperson of the committee by the current government as part of bringing in conservative figures. During that time, Chairperson Lee criticized the government and ruling party's direction on judicial reform, including the crime of legal distortion, and urged President Lee to "leave the Democratic Party if you want to be a president for everyone," continuing with frank remarks.
That day, Chairperson Lee wrote on Facebook, "I will step down as chairperson of the presidential committee for national integration as of the 9th."
He reflected, "Although the past year was a short time, I did my best in my own way to achieve national integration on the foundation of recognizing the differences each citizen has and upholding constitutional values."
He added, "That is because I believed doing so is the way forward for the Republic of Korea and the path to the Lee Jae-myung administration's success."
Chairperson Lee said, "However, I learned that this administration's thinking and philosophy on national integration are very different from mine," adding, "The reason I returned to public office was to be loyal to the Constitution, not to a political power. In this situation, I now intend to step down in accordance with the president's wishes." Chairperson Lee served as head of the Ministry of Government Legislation in the Lee Myung-bak administration.
He also said, "If I may express a wish to the president, it is that, in the course of governing, you reflect at least in part the candid advice I have offered, even when it sometimes risked discourtesy."