Lee Hye-hoon Budget Minister Nomination Controversy: President Lee Demands Break from Past
President Lee Jae-myung's nomination of Lee Hye-hoon as budget minister faces backlash over her past support for martial law. Read about the political fallout and the new ministry.
He's extending an olive branch, but the candidate's history is haunting the nomination. President Lee Jae-myung made a surprising move by naming Lee Hye-hoon, a vocal critic and conservative economist, as the first head of the upcoming Ministry of Planning and Budget. However, her past support for a failed martial law bid has turned a strategic appointment into a political firestorm.
The Flashpoints of Lee Hye-hoon Budget Minister Nomination Controversy
According to the presidential office on Dec. 29, 2025, President Lee is demanding that the nominee clarify her previous remarks supporting former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s controversial martial law attempt. Lee Hye-hoon, a three-term lawmaker, has also been a sharp critic of the current administration’s expansionary fiscal policies, making her selection a significant departure from ideological alignment.
It is necessary for the nominee to coordinate differing views and come up with better ideas through the process. She must make it clear that she intends to sever ties with those past issues.
Political Fallout and Administrative Restructuring
The backlash was immediate. The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) ousted Lee from the party shortly after the announcement, accusing her of betrayal while still holding a party leadership post in Seoul. This turmoil comes as the government prepares for a major reorganization in January, where the new budget ministry will handle mid- to long-term economic strategy under the Prime Minister's office.
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