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Lee So-young ministerial nomination controversies

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2026-09-15 02:52 UTC → 2026-09-23 02:29 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Lee So-young, the nominee for Minister of SMEs and Startups, has faced several allegations regarding financial impropriety during her parliamentary confirmation process. Initial scrutiny focused on potential gift tax evasion. Lawmaker Choi Su-jin alleged that Lee’s husband provided approximately 223 million won to his mother-in-law in 2022 for a lease deposit without a formal loan agreement or interest. Subsequent allegations emerged regarding approximately 70 million won in consulting fees paid to a firm with a vacant registered address, leading former Seoul City Council member Lee Jong-bae to announce plans to file a complaint regarding potential violations of the Political Funds Act. During her National Assembly confirmation hearing, Lee presented a roadmap to alleviate financial burdens on small business owners. Her proposal includes monitoring and reducing costs such as rent, interest, and delivery app fees, while expanding social safety nets like health care and employment insurance for the self-employed. She also pledged to rationalize regulations and integrate SMEs into national growth projects involving AI, carbon neutrality, and semiconductors. However, Lee faces scrutiny over potential contradictions between her legislative history and her ministerial role. As a former lawmaker, she was a prominent advocate for the ‘Yellow Envelope Law’ to protect labor rights, a position criticized by business associations. Her recent signals of a more cautious approach toward corporate regulations, such as KOSDAQ delisting standards and the 52-hour workweek, have raised questions regarding her ability to balance labor interests with the needs of the SME and venture sectors. Following the adoption of the personnel hearing report by the National Assembly, Lee officially began her tenure. The report reflected partisan divides: the Democratic Party expressed confidence in her policy capabilities, while the People Power Party raised concerns regarding her tax compliance, real estate holdings, and lack of specialized expertise in the SME sector.

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