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South Korea withdraws appointment of Lee Hye-hoon as budget minister

By Thomson Reuters Jan 24, 2026 | 11:35 PM

SEOUL, Jan 25 (Reuters) – South Korean President Lee Jae Myung ‍has withdrawn his appointment of Lee Hye-hoon as the newly created budget ministry ‌chief, Woo Sang-ho, ‌a presidential secretary said in a televised address on Sunday.

The nomination of the ​former three-time conservative party lawmaker ‍was initially ​interpreted as an ​attempt by the liberal ‍president to integrate the nation’s politics, but Lee Hye-hoon has been facing pressure ‍to step down amid allegations of abusive remarks to ‍colleagues ‍and controversial ​property investments.

She apologised ​for ⁠her past remarks ‌to colleagues during a hearing by lawmakers on Friday.

(Reporting by Cynthia Kim; Editing by William ⁠Mallard)