Lee Hye-hoon reports ₩17.6bn assets, opposition vows scrutiny

Jan 06, 2026, 08:37 am

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Lawmakers from the People Power Party hold a press conference at the National Assembly on Jan. 5 regarding the confirmation hearing of budget minister nominee Lee Hye-hoon. From left: Yoo Sang-bum, Park Dae-chul, Park Soo-young and Kwon Young-se. / Yonhap

Lee Hye-hoon, nominee for minister of budget and planning, has reported assets totaling 17.57 billion won, prompting the opposition to warn of intensive scrutiny during her upcoming confirmation hearing.

According to asset disclosure documents submitted to the National Assembly on Monday, Lee reported 2.73 billion won in her own name, 10.15 billion won under her spouse, Yonsei University professor Kim Young-se, and assets ranging from 1.2 billion to 1.7 billion won held by each of their three sons.

The filing shows that the family owns a jointly held apartment in Seoul’s Seocho District, valued at about 3.7 billion won. Lee also reported jeonse lease rights for properties in Sodam-dong, Sejong City, worth approximately 170 million won, as well as an officetel lease in central Seoul.

The total declared assets represent an increase of more than 11 billion won compared with her 2016 disclosure, when Lee and her husband reported 6.52 billion won upon entering the 20th National Assembly.

The opposition People Power Party vowed to conduct what it described as “needle-point scrutiny.” Lawmaker Park Soo-young said the process by which Lee’s assets increased by over 10 billion won in a decade would be a primary focus of the hearing. He added that unless Lee voluntarily steps down or her nomination is withdrawn, the party would strongly push for a two-day confirmation hearing.

Park also accused Lee of alleged abuses of power and claimed her nomination was a “disposable appointment” intended to deflect attention from fiscal policies under President Lee Jae-myung. He cited allegations ranging from land speculation to questionable investments and called for Lee’s withdrawal and a public apology from the president.

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea, however, said it would proceed with the confirmation hearing as scheduled. Party spokesperson Kim Hyun-jung said the party would verify what needs to be examined, while criticizing the opposition for what she described as indiscriminate attacks.

She added that Lee’s nomination reflected the president’s commitment to balanced appointments and urged the opposition to trust that intent, saying the final judgment would rest with the public after the hearing process.

#Lee Hye-hoon #asset disclosure #confirmation hearing #People Power Party