President Lee Jae Myung called for "unity and inclusion" on December 30 during a Cabinet meeting, amid backlash from both ruling and opposition sides over his nomination of opposition figure Lee Hye-hoon as head of the new Ministry of Planning and Budget. He stressed the need for sustained efforts to build a society that embraces differences and moves away from extreme confrontation. The remarks came at the first Cabinet meeting since the presidential office's return to Cheong Wa Dae.
President Lee Jae Myung urged "unity and inclusion" on December 30, 2025, during a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, responding to criticism over his Sunday nomination of Lee Hye-hoon, a former three-term conservative lawmaker, to lead the newly established Ministry of Planning and Budget. The pick has drawn backlash from both ruling and opposition parties, particularly because Lee Hye-hoon is known for supporting Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law bid. She apologized on Tuesday for her past remarks, though some opposition lawmakers have labeled her a traitor.
"This is not a political maneuver," Lee said. "If we are to return to a normal society, we must make efforts toward unity and inclusion more strongly and consistently." He added, "If only those who took part in the struggle for power are allowed to enjoy everything and everyone else is excluded, that is not politics but war." Lee pointed out that attempts to eliminate groups with differing views amount to insurrection, stating, "The president's greatest responsibility is to bring national unity." He suggested viewing diverse positions not as discomfort but as a source of synergy.
The meeting was the first since the presidential office relocated back to Cheong Wa Dae from Yongsan, where it had been moved under the previous Yoon administration. Lee described the return as "a symbolic milestone that brings to a close the Yongsan era marred by the erosion of the constitutional order and demonstrates that sovereignty and democracy have been restored." Yoon, removed from office in April after his martial law attempt, had shifted the office to the defense ministry compound in Yongsan upon taking power in 2022. Restoring Cheong Wa Dae was one of Lee's key campaign promises.
Lee highlighted how the country overcame the martial law crisis through the people's strength, citing recent upbeat export and foreign investment figures as signs of recovery. "We will move forward toward a major leap for growth that benefits everyone," he said.
