Lee Hye-hoon, the nominee for South Korea’s Ministry of Planning and Budget, is facing mounting political pressure to step down. Criticism has arisen due to suspicions surrounding her husband’s real estate dealings and her mistreatment of an intern during her time as a lawmaker. Both ruling and opposition parties have expressed concerns over her nomination by President Lee Jae Myung.
The ruling Democratic Party members are uncomfortable with Lee’s past support for a failed martial law bid by former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Meanwhile, the opposition People Power Party (PPP) has labeled her as a traitor. The PPP has intensified its criticism ahead of Lee’s confirmation hearing, highlighting audio recordings of her harshly reprimanding an intern in the National Assembly.
PPP Representative Joo Jin-woo alleged that Lee’s husband engaged in real estate speculation near Incheon International Airport, purchasing a significant amount of land before its official opening in 2001. Documents revealed the acquisition of a 6,612-square-meter plot on Yeongjong Island in Incheon, leading to claims of substantial profit through state expropriation in 2006.
Representative Park Sung-hoon, the PPP’s chief spokesperson, has called for Lee to apologize and withdraw from politics. Park emphasized that Lee’s actions reflect a sense of entitlement that abuses power and mistreats the vulnerable, citing the nominee’s past treatment of her intern.
