South Korea's ruling Democratic Party and opposition People Power Party agreed Thursday to hold a confirmation hearing Friday for Lee Hye-hoon, President Lee Jae Myung's nominee for the new Ministry of Planning and Budget, after weeks of delays over incomplete documents and allegations against her.
The agreement came after the hearing, initially set for Monday, was postponed when the People Power Party (PPP) objected to incomplete documents submitted by Lee during a Strategy and Finance Committee plenary. Committee chair Rep. Lim Lee-ja (PPP) suspended the session, prompting further talks that led to Thursday's deal—conditioned on Lee providing the requested materials.
Nominated by President Lee on December 28, 2025, as the inaugural minister for the Ministry of Planning and Budget (launching under the prime minister's office in January 2026), the former three-term conservative lawmaker has faced bipartisan criticism. The opposition demands her withdrawal over her husband's real estate dealings and claims of mistreating subordinates and an intern during her parliamentary tenure.
This resolves weeks of partisan wrangling, advancing the vetting process amid Seoul's political tensions. The hearing remains non-binding, as the president can appoint her regardless.
