Lee Hyo-jin covers the Bank of Korea, the banking industry and broader financial news. Her previous beats include foreign affairs, North Korea and general reporting on Korean society.
Partisan standoff stalls confirmation hearing for budget minister nominee
Lee Hye-hoon, the nominee for minister of planning and budget, speaks to reporters at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday. Korea Times photo by Min Kyung-seok
By Lee Hyo-jin
Assembly fails to hold hearing amid opposition party's boycott threats
Rival political parties were locked in a fierce standoff Monday over the parliamentary confirmation hearing for Lee Hye-hoon, the nominee to lead the newly launched Ministry of Planning and Budget, amid disputes over her qualifications and allegations of misconduct.
The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) refused to hold the hearing, citing what it viewed as Lee's failure to adequately submit requested materials. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) argued that the hearing should proceed as scheduled so that the National Assembly could properly evaluate the nominee.
The Assembly's Strategy and Finance Committee chair, Rep. Lim Lee-ja of the PPP, declined to hold the confirmation hearing slated for 10 a.m. She told members of the two main parties in the committee to reach an agreement about the submission of the materials, such as records of real estate purchases.
"If we are to hold a proper confirmation hearing, we need proper materials," Rep. Park Soo-young of the PPP said during the meeting. He claimed that the nominee had submitted only a small portion of the requested documents.
Lawmakers from two minor opposition parties — the Reform Party and the Rebuilding Korea Party — also raised concerns over the lack of submitted materials.
The ruling party accused the PPP of deliberately blocking the process.
"We should begin the hearing first and request any additional materials during the hearing. Refusing even to seat the nominee and instead talking about rescheduling shows there is no real intention to conduct the hearing," Rep. Jung Tae-ho of the DPK said.
As the confirmation hearing did not begin, Lim urged the rival parties to continue talks on whether to proceed. But discussions ultimately collapsed and the parties were unable to set a new date for the hearing. Still, the possibility that it could be held on Tuesday, the deadline for convening the session, has not been ruled out.
The nominee rejected the opposition party's claims made during Monday's meeting, saying she had submitted roughly 75 percent of the requested materials.
"I am waiting for the confirmation hearing to be held so that I can have the opportunity to fully explain myself before the public," she told reporters at the Assembly.
A seat for Lee Hye-hoon, the nominee for minister of planning and budget, is empty as rival parties failed to reach an agreement on whether to hold her confirmation hearing, Monday. Korea Times photo by Min Kyung-seok
The dispute over document submissions reflected deeper resistance within the PPP to Lee’s nomination, with the party having already threatened to boycott the hearing over allegations of misconduct.
Lee, a former three-term lawmaker from the conservative PPP, has faced mounting allegations related to her family's past real estate deals and claims that she verbally abused staff while serving at the Assembly.
The PPP has called for her withdrawal, arguing that Lee should be subject to a police investigation rather than a parliamentary confirmation hearing.
The DPK has accused the opposition of applying a double standard, noting that Lee previously won parliamentary seats after undergoing internal vetting within the PPP.
But there are also signs of unease within the ruling party as allegations surrounding the nominee continue to mount.
The police are investigating seven cases related to Lee. The allegations include verbal abuse of aides, suspected preferential treatment in her sons' military duty and claims that she improperly secured a spot in a high-priced apartment housing lottery by exploiting loopholes in eligibility rules.
Some within the liberal camp have pointed to the nominee's past remarks defending former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law imposition, which have raised concerns about her political leanings.
These developments are expected to add pressure on liberal President Lee Jae Myung’s efforts to project political inclusiveness and pragmatism through the appointment of a conservative-leaning figure.
As the president's decision to nominate Lee Hye-hoon in December came as a surprise to many, the presidential office described her as "a policy expert with deep practical experience."