President Lee Jae-myung on the 28th named former Future Korea Party lawmaker Lee Hye-hoon as the nominee for Minister of the Planning and Budget Office, which will launch next year. The presidential office said it nominated Lee, who comes from the opposition camp, as Minister of the Planning and Budget Office after considering expertise and national unity.
Lee Gyu-yeon, senior secretary for public relations and communications at the presidential office, held a briefing at Chunchugwan in Cheong Wa Dae on the afternoon of the 28th and said, "President Lee has nominated former lawmaker Lee Hye-hoon as the candidate for Minister of the Planning and Budget Office."
Nominee Lee Hye-hoon graduated from the economics department at Seoul National University and received a doctorate in economics from UCLA in the United States. She later served as a research fellow at the Korea Development Institute (KDI) and as a lawmaker in the 17th (Grand National Party), 18th (Saenuri Party), and 20th (Future Korea Party) National Assemblies. In the National Assembly, she served as chair of the Intelligence Committee and as a secretary on the Special Committee on Budget & Accounts.
Lee said, "The nominee is well-versed in policy and practice, having served as a secretary on the National Assembly's budget committee and as a KDI research fellow," adding, "Based on a philosophy of economic democratization, she led as a primary sponsor the Minimum Wage Act and Interest Limitation Act amendments, and pursued policies to eradicate unfair transaction and to boost people's livelihoods."
He then emphasized, "Based on years of legislative activity, the soon-to-be-launched Planning and Budget Office will be able to meticulously establish the national mid- to long-term strategy, and she is deemed the right person to restore future growth engines."
Given that the nominee has engaged in politics with a conservative party, her selection as the head of the newly launching Planning and Budget Office under the Lee Jae-myung administration is unusual. President Lee carried out this appointment considering that the nominee is regarded as a reasonable figure even within the opposition camp and that she has expertise from KDI and other roles.
Lee said, "The president's personnel philosophy rests on two pillars: appointments for unity and practicality. This time, too, we adhered to these principles," adding, "As you know, these individuals are considered among the foremost experts in the economic and budget fields, and they also have practical capabilities."
President Lee nominated former Bareunmirae Party lawmaker Kim Sung-sik as vice chair of the National Economic Advisory Council, a minister-level post. Although Kim is categorized as having a centrist bent, he has continued his political career in conservative parties.
Lee said, "Vice Chair Kim is a two-term former lawmaker with a clear conviction and a reformist bent," explaining, "He has been recognized for outstanding policy capacity, including serving as a secretary on the National Assembly's Strategy and Finance Committee and as chair of the special committee on the Fourth Industrial Revolution."
To a question asking whether the Lee Jae-myung administration's economic policy is shifting conservative, Lee answered, "I believe they can be effective under the governing philosophy of practicality and unity."