[The Editors' Verdict] Lee Hyehoon's Qualifications Must Be Determined in the Confirmation Hearing

The appointment of Lee Hyehoon as Minister of Strategy and Budget was a difficult choice to welcome from the outset. The opposition viewed it as a threat and responded with heightened emotions. Who could have predicted that the Lee Jaemyung administration would entrust the nation's finances to a former Policy Coordination Committee Chairperson from the People Power Party?

Lee Hyehoon is a three-term former lawmaker representing the Seocho-gu Gap district in Seoul. She served as a National Assembly member for 12 years in a constituency that includes the ultra-high-priced apartment complexes of Banpo-dong and the affluent Seorae Village in Bangbae-dong. She graduated from the Department of Economics at Seoul National University, earned a Ph.D. in Economics from the prestigious UCLA, and also served as a research fellow at the Korea Development Institute (KDI). The inclusion of a mainstream conservative figure in a Democratic Party administration is bound to be a bitter pill for the People Power Party.

The initial reaction from the Democratic Party was also lukewarm. Her life trajectory hardly seems aligned with the Lee Jaemyung administration. Throughout her political career spanning over 20 years, her focus has remained on conservative parties. She has taken policy stances distinct from the Democratic Party, such as criticizing universal disaster relief payments and advocating for selective welfare. The controversy over her "Yoon Again" remarks fueled doubts about her political orientation, and her participation in the 2004 satirical play "Reincarnation Economy," which mocked former President Roh Moo-hyun, is another reason why Democratic Party supporters view her with discomfort.

However, her career history and past controversies alone cannot determine her suitability as a minister. While the sentiments within both ruling and opposition parties are understandable, it is important to filter out emotional noise to see the essence. Attention should be paid to why President Lee Jaemyung made such an appointment, fully aware that it would be a difficult choice to welcome. His recent remarks at a Cabinet meeting-"Just because someone who likes blue is in power, it does not mean the whole society should be turned blue"-are worth reflecting upon.

For our society to overcome its divisions, a bold shift in thinking is necessary. If only those who are guaranteed to be allies are appointed, many talented individuals will be excluded from the nation's key talent pool. Even when a progressive administration is inaugurated, the practice of boldly appointing capable conservative figures must take root to ensure an effective response to national crises. The same principle applies to conservative governments. The fundamental principle of prioritizing competence over political affiliation must become common sense in personnel appointments.

The role of Minister of Strategy and Budget, responsible for the nation's finances, is a position of great responsibility. Lee Hyehoon must prove her qualifications through a National Assembly confirmation hearing. The process will inevitably be rigorous. In fact, it should be rigorous. The more stringent the vetting process, the more legitimate the results become.

Ethical scrutiny must not be avoided either. It is necessary to address any allegations candidly and openly. However, it is important to guard against confirmation hearings devolving into invasions of privacy. Hearings that focus on digging into the personal lives of the nominee and their family to cause embarrassment are a harmful practice that must be eradicated.

Instead, attention should be paid to her understanding of fiscal management and her philosophy regarding fiscal independence. The confirmation process should assess whether she is capable of managing the nation's finances and whether she possesses the resolve to speak truth to power, even before the highest authority.

If she passes the confirmation hearing through such a process, the initially unwelcome choice may be reevaluated. Should she fully demonstrate her capabilities as Minister of Strategy and Budget, it could serve as an opportunity to broaden the standards for talent selection and mark a historic turning point.