Kwak Sangun: "The Nomination of Lee Hyehun?What Is Its Political Significance?"
Kim Youngbae: "Respect for Appointment Authority... But the Nominee Must Apologize"
People Power Party Criticizes: "The Lee Administration Uses and Discards People"
The ruling party has publicly voiced concerns over the Lee Jaemyung administration's nomination of Lee Hyehun, former lawmaker of the United Future Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party), as the first Minister of Planning and Budget.
Lee Hyehun, nominee for Minister of Planning and Budget, is arriving at the confirmation hearing preparation office set up at the Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation in Jung-gu, Seoul on December 29, 2025. Photo by Kang Jinhyung
On December 29, Kwak Sangun, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party, stated on his Facebook page, "Party leader Jung Cheongrae even mentioned the dissolution of parties with factions that supported insurrection. However, the Lee Jaemyung administration has nominated as its first Minister of Planning and Budget a current district party committee chair and former three-term lawmaker who has not left that very party." He added, "Moreover, the nominee, Lee, reportedly attended rallies opposing impeachment and advocated for 'Yoon Seokyeol Again.'"
Kwak continued, "At this point in time, I cannot understand the political significance of selecting a nominee with such a background and tendencies as the subject of the president's appointment authority."
He further questioned, "Does this mean the state of insurrection has been declared over? Is it an admission that labeling certain political actions as support for insurrection was a mistake? Does it mean that even those once considered part of the insurrection-supporting faction should now be embraced for unity? Or does it mean that, even if the state of insurrection continues and such factions still exist, individuals can be selectively appointed based on ability and necessity regardless? Or, if not, is there another reason, such as a change in national policy? I do not know." He added, "I am not sure how the Korean people will interpret the president's exercise of appointment authority this time."
Kim Youngbae, also a Democratic Party lawmaker, wrote on Facebook, "Nominee Lee must clearly express her changed views to the public and apologize for her past. Opposing Yoon Seokyeol's impeachment and even calling for his release simply because of the prevailing atmosphere demonstrates a serious lack of judgment. Even if the atmosphere is like that, a politician must have the discernment to judge right from wrong."
Kim stated, "As a member of the ruling party, I fundamentally respect the president's authority to appoint officials. Nevertheless, the nominee herself must properly apologize to the public for her past actions and, if her views have changed, explain this clearly to the people."
On the other hand, Kim Moonsu, a lawmaker from the same party, said, "When Song Miryung was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, I believed her abilities would be well utilized in line with the Lee Jaemyung administration's policies, and that is indeed the case now. I expect nominee Lee's abilities will also be demonstrated in effectively leading the bureaucracy and implementing the administration's budget policies." Kim Moonsu emphasized, "Appointing someone as part of a policy of political balance greatly helps national unity and integration. For the sake of the people, we must be able to appoint individuals from the opposition party as well."
Immediately after Lee's nomination, the People Power Party, which promptly expelled her, continued its criticism of both the nominee and the Lee Jaemyung administration. Kim Jaewon, Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, said on YTN Radio on the 29th, "The Lee Jaemyung administration will bring in self-serving, despicable people, use them like disposable tissues, and then discard them."
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