South Korea’s main opposition People Power Party (PPP) expels former lawmaker Lee Hye-hoon on December 28, 2025. The party acts swiftly after President Lee Jae-myung nominates her as the inaugural Minister of Planning and Budget in a surprise cross-party appointment.
Swift Expulsion Amid Outrage
The PPP holds an emergency written supreme council meeting and unanimously decides to expel Lee. She also serves as chair of the party’s Jung-gu–Seongdong B district committee and remains a registered member at the time of nomination.
Party officials label her acceptance of the post—without resigning from the PPP—as the “worst act of betrayal” against party members and voters, especially with local elections approaching in six months. Additionally, people they accuse her of continuing party activities, like evaluations of elected officials, while concealing the nomination.
President Lee Jae-myung announces Lee’s nomination on December 28, 2025, as part of a government reorganization creating the new ministry to separate budget functions from the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
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