Budget Minister Nominee Lee Hye-hoon: A Veteran Economist Tapped for Inaugural Role
President Yoon Suk Yeol has nominated veteran economist and former three-term lawmaker Lee Hye-hoon as the first-ever head of the Ministry of Planning and Budget.
An economist-turned-politician is set to take the helm of South Korea's newest ministry. Lee Hye-hoon, a former three-term lawmaker, has been nominated as the inaugural Minister of the Ministry of Planning and Budget. Announced on December 28, 2025, this appointment signals a strategic move to place a seasoned expert in charge of the nation's fiscal restructuring.
Lee Hye-hoon's Academic and Professional Background
Lee's credentials bridge the gap between academia and practical policy. She holds a doctorate in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and previously worked as a research fellow at the state-run Korea Development Institute (KDI). Her political career began in 2004 when she won a seat in Seoul's Seocho district. Over two decades, she's established herself as a leading voice on the parliamentary Strategy and Finance Committee, focusing on national budget efficiency.
Political Journey and Future Outlook
Lee's political path hasn't been linear. She left the then-ruling Saenuri Party in 2017 following the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye and later headed the minor conservative Bareun Party. She rejoined the mainstream conservative camp in September 2021 to support Yoon Suk Yeol's presidential bid. As the first head of the newly created budget ministry, Lee is expected to leverage her dual expertise to streamline government spending and oversee the ministry's foundational setup.
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