Lee Byung-tae, the vice chairman of the Presidential Regulatory Reform Committee, has resigned unexpectedly, just two days after receiving a "serious warning" from the Blue House.
On July 6, the Blue House announced in a media statement, "Lee has expressed his intention to resign, and we have decided to accept it."
Earlier, the Blue House had stated, "Due to the gravity of the situation, we recommended Lee Byung-tae's resignation, and he is currently considering his options."
According to the Administrative Regulation Basic Act, the vice chairman of the Regulatory Reform Committee, which is at the ministerial level, is guaranteed a two-year term. There are no provisions for dismissal or removal by the appointing authority, which likely led to the recommendation for resignation. Lee, a professor at KAIST with conservative leanings, was appointed directly by President Lee Jae-myung and has now stepped down due to this incident.
In a statement posted on Facebook following his resignation, Lee said, "Recently, a post on my personal social media has sparked social controversy and political disputes. I have decided to resign after careful consideration, as I believe I should not burden the appointing authority and the government due to this situation."
He reflected, "The reason I joined the Lee Jae-myung administration was because I believed in the president's sincerity to overcome the polarized politics that divide us into opposing camps and to achieve national unity. As someone who has often criticized progressive policies from a conservative perspective, this was not an easy choice for me."
Lee added, "I believed it was my duty as a citizen to contribute, even in a small way, to alleviating political polarization and changing the bleak economic future for young people. I confess that I have deeply pondered whether the repeated departures of myself and other conservative figures who were brought in align with the greater cause of national unity."
He explained, "I understood my role as maintaining balance to ensure that government policies do not lean too far in one direction from a conservative viewpoint, and I did not hold back in voicing concerns about regulatory reforms and economic policies. The post related to the cheer for Paejae High School, which became a point of contention, was also part of that effort."
Lee expressed, "I intended to appeal for our society to be a bit more flexible and tolerant of differing opinions, even regarding simple slogans used in children's sports events, which have been politicized and turned into ideological confrontations. However, ultimately, my intentions led to an escalation of conflict, and I acknowledge my failure to adequately consider the political sensitivities involved."
He concluded, "While I am resigning in this manner, I will continue to dream of a truly free country for both individuals and businesses. I apologize for not meeting the expectations placed upon me during my time in this role."
Previously, Lee had criticized the severe penalties imposed on the baseball team from Paejae High School for chanting, "Let’s go to Starbucks," during a game against Gwangju Jeil High School, calling it a "sanctification of history" and emphasizing the need to protect freedom of expression.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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