People Power Party Boycotts Lee Hyehoon's Confirmation Hearing... Office of the President: "No Change in Position, Expect Answers Meeting Public Expectations"

Lee Hyehoon, the nominee for Minister of Planning and Budget, who won a lottery for an apartment in Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, where the price ceiling system was applied, reportedly gained a minimum market price difference of over 3.5 billion won. He is arriving at the confirmation hearing office set up at the Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation in Jongno-gu, Seoul on January 9, 2026. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

The Office of the President announced on January 18 that there is no change in its position to observe the confirmation hearing for Lee Hyehoon, nominee for Minister of Planning and Budget.

Lee Guyoun, Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Relations and Communication, stated during a briefing at the Chunchugwan press center that afternoon, "There is still no change in our position," when asked about the Office of the President's stance on the People Power Party's boycott of the nominee's confirmation hearing.

He explained, "We expect that the nominee will provide answers that meet the public's expectations during the confirmation hearing."

Earlier that day, members of the National Assembly Strategy and Finance Committee from the People Power Party held a press conference, criticizing the nominee for submitting insufficient materials and announcing, "We are completely refusing to participate in the confirmation hearing."

Previously, on January 13, both the ruling and opposition parties agreed during a full session of the Strategy and Finance Committee to hold the confirmation hearing for the nominee at 10 a.m. on January 19.