Budget minister nominee apologizes over staff abuse allegations, denies improper apartment bid

Lee Hye-hoon, the nominee for budget minister, bowed in apology during a parliamentary confirmation hearing Friday over allegations that she mistreated aides, while denying claims of an improper apartment application and what she called “parental favoritism” in her son’s university admission. The hearing for the nominee had been delayed after both the ruling and opposition parties objected during earlier proceedings amid disputes over her submission of requested materials. The standoff has emerged as a major test of President Lee Jae Myung’s pragmatic governing strategy. The liberal president tapped Lee, a veteran economist and three-term former lawmaker from the conservative opposition, to lead the newly created Ministry of Planning and Budget. In opening remarks at the National Assembly, Lee said she was sorry for causing public concern and apologized to both the public and the president. She also addressed allegations that she had mistreated staff. “I sincerely apologize to everyone hurt by my immature words and actions,” she said, adding that she had been narrowly focuseWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times