Since Lee Jae-myung's administration took office, 781 individuals who initially refused government honors during Yoon Suk-yeol's presidency have been awarded again. From May 2022 to May 2023, a total of 7,273 individuals did not submit their consent for receiving honors, mainly comprising of educators. The hesitance of many was rooted in their opposition to receiving awards endorsed by President Yoon's name, which they believed did not reflect the values of representation and leadership in the country.

The report shows that a significant number of educators among the non-consenters expressed discomfort with receiving such honors, with notable cases like Professor Lee Cheol-ki from Dongguk University who refused to accept an award just before his retirement in 2022, stating a dislike for receiving recognition from a president he deemed unworthy. In total, approximately 1,057 educators, 172 general civil servants, and 18 military personnel opted to reapply for recognition after the change in government, creating a context where the new administration is willing to address prior grievances of those who felt politically motivated in their refusal.

President Lee Jae-myung directed the Ministry of the Interior in July to thoroughly investigate and review the cases of individuals who refused honors during the previous administration. This initiative represents a broader effort to reconcile the divide and restore dignity to public servants disrupted by political shifts, indicating a change in the approach of the new government towards recognizing public service and ensuring that such honors are seen as honorable and inclusive, rather than divisive or politically charged.