On the 29th, the ruling camp was noisy all day over controversy surrounding Lee Hye-hoon, nominee for Minister of Planning and Budget. The main issue was the nominee's past stance against impeaching former President Yoon Suk-yeol, despite her background in the People Power Party.
That day, Chief Spokesperson Park Su-hyun appeared on KBS radio and said, "(The nominee) must clearly state a position on remarks and actions that defended the former president and apologize to the public." Lawmaker Park Beom-kye and lawmaker Choi Min-hee also appeared on YTN radio and MBC radio, respectively, and said, "The stance that supported an insurrection deserves strong criticism. Apologizing for past conduct is entirely up to the person," and "We will watch the confirmation hearing to see what attitude appears regarding endorsing insurrection and pro-Yoon again behavior."
Similar remarks came from the Democratic Party leadership. Supreme Council member Lee Un-ju wrote on social media (SNS), "Even integration has principles and limits." It was read to mean that the nominee, who defended martial law, is not a target for integration. Lawmaker Yoon Jun-byung also said, "It's not inclusion but a breach of governing principles." Lawmaker Kwak Sang-eon said, "How should we interpret the president's exercise of appointment power?" adding, "Does it mean we should now embrace even those who sided with insurrection?"
Stronger words emerged behind the scenes. A Democratic Party lawmaker on the National Assembly's Strategy and Finance Committee, the relevant standing committee, told ChosunBiz by phone, "I don't know what we're supposed to do—politically (about the nominee) we can't attack, we can't defend." Another lawmaker said, "Integration is one thing, but there are limits," adding, "If someone says, 'I also had no choice but to go Yoon again,' wouldn't that become logic for granting a free pass? On what grounds would the Constitution-Respect TF carry out a personnel cleanup?"
In the end, the Blue House stepped in. Kang Yu-jung, the Spokesperson, conveyed President Lee Jae-myung's remarks to the press that afternoon.
In a closed-door meeting that morning, the president was quoted as saying, "(The Minister nominee Lee Hye-hoon) needs to make clear a 'will to break with' past endorsements of insurrection." He also said, "While the appointment power allows (the president) to nominate, nominees must adequately prove their competence through this process and pass public scrutiny," and, "The nominee has a duty to answer the public's questions."
There was much talk in political circles. Some said, "If the Democratic Party strongly opposes, it sounds like the president could withdraw the nomination of Minister nominee Lee Hye-hoon," and, "Isn't the idea to use an opposition figure as a card for next year's local elections and then discard her?" Others said, "Didn't the president also retain Song Mi-ryung, the agriculture and food Minister from the Yoon Suk-yeol administration?" and, "The effort to pursue integrative appointments deserves recognition."