'Lee Hyehoon Confirmation Hearing' Disrupted... Nominee Unable to Take Seat as Parties Clash

Chairperson Lim Ija Declares "Agenda Cannot Be Tabled"
Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash Over Submission of Documents
Nominee Unable to Even Enter the Chamber

The confirmation hearing for Lee Hyehoon, the nominee for Minister of Planning and Budget, at the National Assembly's Finance and Economy Planning Committee was marred by disruptions from the very beginning. Although the meeting began on the morning of January 19 under the chairmanship of Lim Ija from the People Power Party, it did not proceed as a normal hearing. As of 11 a.m., the nominee had not taken her seat, and the ruling and opposition parties engaged in heated arguments over the procedures of the hearing.

Lim Ija, Chairperson of the Finance and Economy Planning Committee, convened the full committee meeting that day but stated, "Since there was no agreement between the party secretaries regarding the nominee's hearing, as chairperson, I cannot put any hearing-related agenda items on the table." As no agenda items were tabled, nominee Lee was unable to enter the full committee chamber.

On the 19th, at the National Assembly's Finance and Economy Planning Committee hearing for Lee Hyehoon, the nominee for Minister of Planning and Budget, the nominee's seat was empty. January 19, 2026. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Initially, the Democratic Party of Korea had planned to proceed with the hearing on their own if Chairperson Lim refused to preside. However, after Lim declared the opening and then immediately called for a recess, the ruling party was unable to conduct the hearing independently. While Article 50, Paragraph 5 of the National Assembly Act allows for the chairperson's duties to be assumed by others if the chair refuses to preside, Lim's decision to open the full committee effectively blocked the possibility of a unilateral hearing. Lim explained, "I could not overlook the fact that the nominee threatened to file a complaint against a lawmaker who intended to vet her."

However, Lim clarified that the hearing itself had not been canceled. She said, "When we made our decision, it was clearly stated that if there were issues with the submission of materials, we could change our stance," adding, "Do not assume that the hearing will not be held."

Blame for the failure to hold the confirmation hearing led to shouting matches between the ruling and opposition parties. The opposition criticized the nominee for submitting incomplete materials, while the ruling party accused the opposition of obstructionism.

Park Sooyoung, the People Power Party's secretary for the committee, criticized the nominee for failing to submit records of her financial transactions, asking, "Why are you not submitting the documents?" In response, Kim Youngjin of the Democratic Party argued, "There has never been a case where a confirmation hearing was opened after the nominee failed to take their seat even once." He added, "In no confirmation hearing has a nominee or their spouse and immediate family ever submitted all their financial institution transaction records. These are either personal data that simply cannot be submitted, or, if not the nominee, would infringe on the rights of their children. Please be selective in your requests for documentation."

Chun Haram, a lawmaker from the Reform Party, stated, "Ultimately, the hearing must be held, but it must be conducted properly. We must not allow a hearing to become a mere formality due to insufficient documentation." Jeong Taeho, the Democratic Party's secretary for the committee, mentioned efforts made to submit documents and criticized, "Refusing to seat the nominee without any consultation with the secretaries shows there is no intention to hold a hearing."