Criticism is emerging within the People Power Party after Lee Hye-hoon, the party's Seoul Jung–Seongdong B district chapter head and a former lawmaker, was named as the nominee for Minister of the Ministry of Planning and Budget in the Lee Jae-myung administration, which is newly launching the agency. Some voices went further, calling it a betrayal of the party and demanding expulsion.
Bae Hyun-jin, head of the People Power Party's Seoul chapter, wrote on Facebook on the 28th, "A former three-term senior lawmaker from Seocho A in Seoul, a strategic stronghold for the People Power Party, and the current Jung–Seongdong B district chapter head, joining the Lee Jae-myung administration without even submitting a withdrawal form is a clear act of betrayal that goes beyond political ethics."
She continued, "The nominee, who knows better than anyone that the People Power Party has put everything into blocking the Lee Jae-myung administration's populist, expansionary fiscal stance, is no different from collaborating with Japanese imperial rule, selling conscience and soul for personal advancement," and added, "I strongly recommend to the central party the immediate expulsion of this nominee."
Joo Jin-woo of the same party also said, "Nominating Lee Hye-hoon as Minister of the Ministry of Planning and Budget is a distraction from the economic collapse. Rather than using Lee Hye-hoon as a smokescreen, the administration should completely reverse its policy direction even now," adding, "Are they saying they will make (her) Minister?"
Jeong Yeon-uk of the People Power Party also said, "Words stood with conservatism, but the choice turned toward power," and added, "Former lawmaker Lee Hye-hoon, who shouted 'Yoon Again,' becoming the nominee for Minister of the Ministry of Planning and Budget in the Lee Jae-myung administration is a choice that betrays the basics of politics."
President Lee Jae-myung on this day named former lawmaker Lee Hye-hoon as the nominee for Minister of the Ministry of Planning and Budget. As the Ministry of Planning and Budget is a new body launching as one of President Lee's campaign pledges, assessments continued that this was an exceptional pick of an opposition conservative figure.
Presidential Office Senior Secretary for Public Relations and Communication Lee Gyu-yeon said at a briefing, "The president's personnel philosophy has two pillars: appointments for integration and practicality. The same personnel principle was followed this time," adding, "As you know, these figures are regarded as among the top experts in the economy and budget fields, and we believe they also possess practical competence."