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 Finance and Economy Planning Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea stated that day, "We have reached a provisional agreement to hold the hearing on the 23rd, on the condition that the requested materials are submitted."

Previously, the ruling and opposition parties had scheduled a confirmation hearing for the nominee on January 19. However, the hearing was not held as the opposition party raised issues over the nominee's insufficient submission of materials and took issue with the nominee's team mentioning the possibility of '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, as the condition of submitting materials 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, according to the Confirmation Hearing Act, the hearing was supposed to be held by this day. However, as President Lee reiterated the necessity of the confirmation hearing during his New Year's press conference and other occasions, it appears that the ruling and opposition parties have reached a conditional agreement.