President Lee withdraws Education Minister nominee Lee Jin-sook

President Lee Jae Myung has withdrawn his nomination of Lee Jin-sook, the former president of Chungnam National University, as South Korea's Education Minister.

Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Woo Sang-ho told reporters on Sunday that the decision was made after "carefully listening to various opinions," including those shared during President Lee's meeting with the floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party and the main opposition People Power Party on Saturday.

The nominee had come under fire after allegations of plagiarism in her academic work and controversy over sending her daughter abroad alone to study while still a middle school student, which is illegal under Korean law.

Woo added that the government will search for a new candidate to lead the Education Ministry.