Seoul: Education Minister nominee Lee Jin-sook, who has caused controversy over her suspected academic misconduct, apologized Wednesday for violating a law in the process of sending her child to study abroad at an early age.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee's second daughter, now 33, was sent to study in the United States in 2007, when she was in her third year of middle school. This action breached the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which mandates compulsory education up to middle school, as reported by the office of Rep. Kim Min-jeon of the opposition People Power Party (PPP).

The violation of this law carries a penalty of a fine of less than 1 million won (approximately US$730). The law would have permitted the daughter's departure to the U.S. if at least one parent had accompanied her abroad. However, both Lee and her husband remained in the country at that time.

Lee, an architecture professor at Chungnam National University, expressed her regret through her confirmation hearing preparation team, stating, "I feel sorry that it does not meet the people's expectations." The team clarified that Lee was unaware of the legal requirements when her daughter was studying overseas.

In addition to the issue of her daughter's education, other PPP lawmakers have raised allegations of academic misconduct against Lee. These include potential plagiarism involving a thesis by her student and duplicate publication of her research work. Lee's team indicated that she plans to address all allegations at her parliamentary confirmation hearing, scheduled for July 16.