Ruling and Opposition Parties Reach Conditional Agreement on 'Lee Hyehun Hearing' for January 23... 'Document Submission Required'

The ruling and opposition parties reached a tentative agreement on January 21 to hold a confirmation hearing for Lee Hyehun, the nominee for Minister of Planning and Budget.

A representative from the Democratic Party of Korea on the Planning and Finance Committee stated that a tentative agreement had been reached to hold the hearing on January 23, on the condition that the requested documents are submitted.

Previously, the ruling and opposition parties attempted to hold a confirmation hearing for the nominee on January 19. However, the agenda was not tabled due to the opposition's concerns over the nominee's insufficient submission of documents and the nominee's side mentioning possible legal action.

Lee Hyehun, the nominee for Minister of Planning and Budget, is moving while receiving questions from reporters at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 19th. The full meeting of the Finance and Economy Planning Committee held that day was adjourned after a dispute between the ruling and opposition parties over whether to hold a hearing for Minister Lee. January 19, 2026 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

However, since the condition of submitting documents still remains, the actual holding of the hearing is still uncertain.

The ruling and opposition parties have been at odds, claiming that sufficient materials related to various allegations against the nominee have not been submitted.

Meanwhile, under the Personnel Hearing Act, the confirmation hearing was supposed to be conducted by this date. However, as President Lee reiterated the necessity of the confirmation hearing during his New Year press conference and other occasions, it appears that the parties reached a conditional agreement.