President Lee Taps Conservative Economist Lee Hye-hoon for New Budget Ministry
President Lee Jae-myung nominated conservative economist Lee Hye-hoon as the first Minister of Planning and Budget. The move signals a focus on fiscal expertise and cross-party cooperation.
Handshakes across the aisle often mask underlying friction, but this move signals a focus on fiscal expertise over party lines. President Lee Jae-myung nominated Lee Hye-hoon, a veteran economist and former three-term conservative lawmaker, as the inaugural minister for planning and budget on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025.
A Cross-Party Appointment for Fiscal Leadership
The presidential office announced that the nominee was chosen to lead the Ministry of Planning and Budget, which is scheduled for installation under the Prime Minister's office in January. Lee Kyu-yeon, the presidential secretary for public relations, stated that Lee's deep experience in the National Assembly and her background as an economist make her uniquely qualified for the role.
Strategic Shifts in Government Reorganization
Lee previously represented the conservative bloc for three terms and ran as a candidate for the main opposition People Power Party in the April 2024 parliamentary elections. Her nomination is seen as a strategic move by the administration to strengthen its economic planning capabilities while potentially easing tensions with the opposition.
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