Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung stated on Monday that the nominee for budget minister, Lee Hye-hoon, must clarify her past remarks supporting former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law attempt, according to a presidential spokesperson. Lee Hye-hoon, a seasoned economist and former three-term lawmaker from the conservative camp, was named on Sunday as the inaugural minister of the soon-to-be-established Ministry of Planning and Budget. Her nomination has sparked controversy due to her previous comments backing Yoon's martial law bid, her participation in rallies against his impeachment, and her opposition to President Lee's fiscal policies.

According to Yonhap News Agency, President Lee has urged the nominee to address her past statements on Yoon's martial law attempt and to clearly distance herself from those issues. Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung conveyed President Lee's stance, emphasizing the necessity for the nominee to clarify her position. President Lee also highlighted the importance of dialogue in resolving differences to formulate more effective policies. "It is necessary to coordinate differing views and come up with better ideas through the process," he expressed.

The nomination of Lee Hye-hoon will undergo a parliamentary confirmation hearing, although President Lee holds the authority to proceed with the appointment regardless of the hearing's outcome. The nomination has faced strong opposition from the People Power Party, which expelled Lee from the party shortly after the announcement. The party accused her of accepting the ministerial post while still serving as chair of a party constituency committee in Seoul.

The newly established budget ministry will be placed under the prime minister's office as part of a government reorganization bill set to be implemented in January. Within the new governmental framework, the Ministry of Finance and Economy will act as the government's policy control hub, while the new Ministry of Planning and Budget will be responsible for budget allocation and formulating mid- to long-term economic strategies.