Lee Hye-hoon, the nominee for Minister of Planning and Budget, apologizes for past remarks as she arrives at the interim government office set up at the Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the morning of December 30th last year. [Photo = Yonhap News]

On December 28th of last year, Lee Jae-myung, emphasizing unity and pragmatism by stating, "A person who likes blue cannot make the entire society blue simply because they hold power," nominated Lee Hye-hoon, former Supreme People's Council member and former party committee chair for the People Power Party's Jung-gu and Seongdong-gu B constituency, as the first minister nominee for the Ministry of Planning and Budget, marking her return to politics. 

The Ministry of Planning and Budget was first established in 1999 during the Kim Dae-jung administration, maintained through the Roh Moo-hyun administration, and then abolished in 2008 with the launch of the Lee Myung-bak administration, merging with the Ministry of Finance and Economy to form the current Ministry of Economy and Finance, before being revived this time. 

Lee Jae-myung's nomination of Lee Hye-hoon as the nominee for Minister of Planning and Budget was carried out under extreme secrecy until just before the announcement, doubling the shock and anger of both the ruling and opposition parties. 

The nominee Lee continued her normal activities as a party committee chair, preparing party member education and requesting a congratulatory speech from Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, right up until the day before the nomination announcement. Consequently, the People Power Party took immediate disciplinary action, expelling her on the day of the nomination, stating, "She concealed the fact of her internal appointment and deceived the party."

Killing Three Birds with One Stone... Lee Jae-myung's Three Objectives

What is the reason behind Lee Jae-myung's decision to proceed with this personnel appointment, which has sparked backlash not only from the People Power Party but also from the Democratic Party of Korea? Upon examining the core objectives, it becomes clear that Lee Jae-myung chose Lee Hye-hoon as a strategic move to "kill three birds with one stone."

△ First Objective: Secure support from the centrist demographic under the guise of "cooperation."

Since taking office, Lee Jae-myung has emphasized "pragmatism" and "people's livelihood." By nominating Lee Hye-hoon, a prominent economic expert from the conservative camp, as the first Minister of Planning and Budget, he has sent a public message that "talented individuals are utilized regardless of their political affiliation."

Furthermore, it aimed to broaden the support base among centrist voters by highlighting the prioritization of practical skills over ideological clarity. By including someone from the opposition camp in the cabinet, the administration seeks to gain moral high ground to define any future opposition from the National Assembly as "hindering national governance."

△ Second Objective: Block the conservative camp's "fiscal populism" attacks.

The Lee Jae-myung administration's biggest Achilles' heel is criticism of "excessive fiscal spending" and "populism." Appointing Lee Hye-hoon, a proponent of "market economy" and a former researcher at the Korea Development Institute (KDI), as the head of budget operations is a "shielding" strategy.

This allows them to respond to future criticisms from the conservative camp regarding fiscal soundness by saying, "That was designed and implemented by someone from your own camp," and it can also provide a degree of reassurance to the market regarding the government's fiscal management, as a conservative figure is overseeing the budget.

△ Third Objective: Provoke division and conflict within the opposition camp... The "rule by barbarians to control barbarians" strategy.

This aims to destabilize the opposing bloc by drawing away their resources.

Moreover, this serves as a sophisticated strategic move to weaken the opposition's cohesion by opening the door for figures who identify as "rational conservatives" to potentially defect to Lee Jae-myung's side in the future. If internal strife arises within the People Power Party due to preemptive crackdowns on suspected individuals, it would be a double victory.

Ultimately, this appointment can be seen as a multi-purpose maneuver, disguised as "harmony," but aiming for the practical goal of "disrupting the opposing camp" – a move to kill three birds with one stone.

A banner displayed in the Jung-gu and Seongdong-gu B district by Lee Hye-hoon, nominee for Minister of Planning and Budget, in her capacity as the People Power Party's district committee chair. [Photo = Joo Jin-woo's Facebook]

Lee Hye-hoon Faces Obstacles... Verbal Abuse, Abuse of Power, and Speculation Allegations

However, Lee Hye-hoon is currently facing allegations of "verbal abuse" and "abuse of power" towards staff and aides, as well as suspicions of land speculation in Yeongjongdo. Consequently, the prevailing atmosphere in most media outlets is one of speculation on whether the nomination will be withdrawn or if she will resign voluntarily. 

Furthermore, there are significant voices of discontent within the Democratic Party regarding this nomination. Some members, including lawmakers Jang Cheol-min, Yoon Jun-pyeong, Choi Min-hee, and Kim Young-bae, are opposing her ministerial appointment, citing her active participation in anti-impeachment rallies and her use of slogans like "Yoon-er-gain" as being inconsistent with the Democratic Party's stance. 

In response, the Presidential Office stated, "The nominee herself must adequately explain her past remarks and clearly express her intention to distance herself from them." 

Right up until the nomination announcement, Lee Hye-hoon was seen campaigning for the immediate release of President Yoon Suk-yeol, hanging banners stating "Impeachment is illegal" and forcing innocent people to shave their heads. Moreover, on the very day she apologized, banners stating "The Republic of Korea is collapsing due to the Democratic Party's incitement to rebellion" were still displayed in the Jung-gu and Seongdong-gu B district. 

The prevailing view is that her apology immediately after being nominated as minister, claiming "I didn't know the reality at the time" and "I was swept up in the atmosphere," is merely a self-serving statement by an opportunist solely aimed at obtaining the ministerial position. 

Lee Hye-hoon Not Utilized by the Yoon Suk-yeol Administration

Why was Lee Hye-hoon not utilized by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration? As one of the individuals known as an economic expert within the People Power Party, she would have naturally been considered for positions such as Minister of Economy and Finance during the cabinet selection process. 

Lee Hye-hoon obtained her doctorate with a thesis on "Medical Insurance," and at KDI, she primarily worked on tasks such as preliminary feasibility studies, which are distant from macro-fiscal operations. In short, her expertise is insufficient for a ministerial position in economic departments. 

Therefore, some are criticizing Lee Jae-myung's personnel selection for this appointment, calling it "shallow" for presenting such a weak card as Lee Hye-hoon in an attempt to shake up the People Power Party. 

The Shadow of Kim Chong-in, What is the Problem?

Some in the political sphere have identified Kim Chong-in as the person who recommended Lee Hye-hoon to Lee Jae-myung. Indeed, immediately after the nomination announcement, Kim Chong-in highly praised it as a "groundbreaking appointment" and criticized those who opposed it within the People Power Party as "petty."

Kim Chong-in played a significant role as a political mentor in Lee Hye-hoon's growth within the conservative camp and has been a strong ally in this nomination process. 

Within the conservative camp, Lee Hye-hoon is a prominent figure who, alongside Kim Chong-in, has emphasized "fairness in market economy" and "economic democratization."

"Economic democratization," which Kim Chong-in has advocated for his entire life, is a concept that justifies state intervention in the market based on Article 119, Paragraph 2 of the Constitution (harmony among economic entities). This idea undermines the core conservative value of "freedom" and leans towards statism. 

Furthermore, he prioritizes strategic shifts for victory over specific ideologies. To engage in "strategic shifts" is, in other words, to be an opportunist. 

Figures within the People Power Party belonging to the so-called Kim Chong-in faction have consistently espoused "centrist expansion" and "cleansing of old conservatism," thereby sowing seeds of conflict and division within the party. In response, the conservative right has been vocal in its criticism that "Kim Chong-in's pragmatism has ultimately dismantled the ideological bloc and produced traitors."

The Kim Chong-in Faction's Demand for an Apology for the December 3rd Martial Law Declaration

Around the anniversary of President Yoon Suk-yeol's December 3rd martial law declaration last year, the People Power Party experienced another upheaval regarding an "apology for the martial law." 

First, 25 lawmakers belonging to the People Power Party issued a public apology at the National Assembly Communication Center on the first anniversary of the December 3rd martial law declaration, announcing a political break with President Yoon. Subsequently, a total of 41 individuals, including those who joined the apology or argued for an apology, openly defied the Jang Dong-hyuk leadership. This group included the People Power Party's floor leader Song Eon-seok and veteran lawmakers with six or more terms, such as Kwon Young-se and Cho Kyung-tae. 

Song Eon-seok served as Kim Chong-in's chief of staff when Kim Chong-in was the interim leader of the People Power Party, and Kim Jae-seop was an interim committee member appointed by Kim Chong-in. 

While not all of these individuals can be classified as belonging to the Kim Chong-in faction, the majority advocate for a "decentralized presidential system" and "cabinet system constitutional amendment," indicating that their paths are converging. 

Furthermore, Kim Chong-in has recently praised Han Dong-hoon, stating, "There is no one in the People Power Party who can surpass Han Dong-hoon," leading to the perception that the Han Dong-hoon faction and the Kim Chong-in faction are gradually becoming an informal alliance. 

The characteristic of the forces advocating for a "cabinet system constitutional amendment" is their approach to politics from a business perspective. The future of the nation or ideologies to be defended are not on their agenda. 

The conservative right's criticism, which states, "They want to seize the President's authority through the National Assembly and then take turns serving as Prime Minister and ministers amongst themselves," reflects the view that while they use the justification of power distribution, they are in reality aiming for the monopolization of power by lawmakers. 

Amplified Internal Conflict within the People Power Party... Lee Jae-myung Has Gained One Strategy

Lee Jae-myung's nomination of Lee Hye-hoon has caused a stir not only in the media but also within the People Power Party.

Among the Han Dong-hoon faction and the so-called young lawmakers' group "Alternative and Future," which includes Kim Yong-tae, Song Seok-jun, Park Jung-ha, and Kim Jae-seop, who advocate for a break with President Yoon Suk-yeol, there are arguments that the leadership's immediate expulsion of Lee Hye-hoon was hasty and that this appointment should be used as an opportunity for conservative reform.

These individuals have been promoting internal party division under the banners of "reform conservatism" and "centrist expansion." While they may not be direct members of the Kim Chong-in faction, they are considered to have been influenced by Kim Chong-in or to be operating under his shadow. 

The current situation, where conflicts have resurfaced and everyone is voicing their opinions, is the result of Lee Jae-myung's third strategy: the "rule by barbarians to control barbarians" strategy, which benefits from internal conflict within the People Power Party. This is because amplified internal division and conflict prior to the local elections would be detrimental to the People Power Party. 

And, as always, the shadow of Kim Chong-in looms over the center of this division and conflict. 

Reform is Like "Peeling Off the Skin"...

On December 9th of last year, at a cabinet meeting, Lee Jae-myung emphasized that "reform is like peeling off the skin," stating that conflict and resistance are inevitable in the process of normalizing society, meaning the process of clearing out past wrongdoings. 

What the People Power Party needs now is precisely that painful process of "peeling off the skin."

Jang Dong-hyuk, the interim leader of the People Power Party, recently suggested the need to remove obstacles that hinder the party's identity, hinting at a cleanup of Han Dong-hoon and his associates. This is a strategy to eliminate internal "discord" and highlight the party's clear identity to win back public support ahead of the local elections. 

This is a call to shed the left-leaning "moderate conservatives" who have continuously instigated party division and to be reborn as a party of elite, genuine conservatives rather than a mixed bag. Despite the pain of "peeling off the skin" as Lee Jae-myung described, most of the conservative right is cheering for the decisive will of Leader Jang to endure that process. 

Reporter Park Hye-soo