The Democratic Party of Korea praised the nomination of former lawmaker Lee Hye-hoon as the first Minister of Planning and Budget on Wednesday, calling it "the essence of unity and pragmatic personnel management."
Kim Hyun-jung, floor spokesperson for the Democratic Party, told reporters at the National Assembly that Lee is "not only a three-term lawmaker of the People Power Party but also a former researcher at the Korea Development Institute with expertise recognized by all."
"This seems to directly reflect President Lee's centrist, pragmatic approach to personnel appointments," Kim said.
Kim also spoke favorably of former lawmaker Kim Sung-sik, who was named Vice Chairman of the National Economic Advisory Council. "He appears to have been nominated because he is an economic expert who will perform well in the role," she said.
The People Power Party announced the same day that it would expel Lee, who currently serves as district party chairman for Seoul's Jungseong-dong constituency.
"Isn't this an overreaction?" Kim said. "Rather, if they think of this as a channel for fully reflecting opinions from both ruling and opposition parties when crafting the budget, there seems to be no need to react so strongly."
Cho Seung-rae, Secretary-General of the Democratic Party, criticized the move on Facebook. "The People Power Party is talking about expelling nominee Lee Hye-hoon," he wrote. "If they decide this way, they would be responding with expulsion to the president's will for unity — appointing a former lawmaker and current district chairman of the main opposition party to the key position of Planning and Budget Minister, which oversees the planning, formulation, coordination and management of the national budget."
Meanwhile, controversy is expected within the ruling party's support base after it was revealed that Lee attended rallies opposing the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol during the impeachment crisis.
Cho Kuk, leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, shared a media report on Facebook showing a photo of Lee attending an anti-impeachment rally for former President Yoon, writing simply: "Lee Hye-hoon, nominee for first Minister of Planning and Budget."
No public criticism has emerged from within the Democratic Party so far. Choi Min-hee, a Democratic Party lawmaker who chairs the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, wrote on Facebook shortly after the presidential office announced the appointments: "President Lee Jae-myung selects former lawmakers Kim Sung-sik and Lee Hye-hoon, evaluated as rational conservatives, for ministerial positions. This will be assessed as balanced, merit-based personnel management."
Lawmaker Kang Deuk-gu added: "Various controversies will arise surrounding these appointments. However, the logic of ruling versus opposition and progressive versus conservative camps should not interfere with saving the Republic of Korea."
