Lee urges nominee to clarify break from Yoon

Dec 30, 2025, 08:30 am

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President Lee Jae-myung speaks at a briefing at the presidential office, addressing questions over the nomination of Lee Hye-hoon.

President Lee Jae-myung has said that Lee Hye-hoon, nominee for minister of the Budget and Planning Agency, should personally clarify her position and explicitly express a willingness to sever any ties related to the controversial martial law episode.

According to presidential spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung, Lee made the remarks during a press briefing on Dec. 29, saying that the nominee herself “should sufficiently explain the matter and more clearly state her intention to distance herself” from issues linked to the emergency martial law situation.

Lee also stressed that presidential personnel authority does not end with nomination. “A president may nominate someone, but that nominee must prove their competence and pass the process of public scrutiny,” he said, adding that public approval is an essential part of the vetting process.

On the broader rationale behind the nomination, Lee said the government should not be composed only of people who share identical views. Instead, he argued, bringing together individuals with differing perspectives and engaging in vigorous debate can help find common ground and produce new and more rational policies.

He added that differences of opinion in the National Assembly are not inherently problematic, noting that what matters is the process of coordination and adjustment. “If those processes lead to better conclusions, that is sufficient,” the president said.

When asked whether Lee Hye-hoon’s reported attendance at rallies opposing the impeachment of former president Yoon Suk Yeol had been fully reviewed during the vetting process, the spokesperson said it was difficult to confirm details of internal personnel verification procedures.

#Lee Jae-myung #Lee Hye-hoon #cabinet nomination #personnel authority #public vetting