South Korean: In the face of criticism over his choice of an opposition politician as minister President Lee pleads for “unity, inclusion.”

South Korean: Following criticism from both the government and opposition blocs for his appointment of an opposition member to a cabinet position, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung urged “unity and inclusion” on Tuesday.

Speaking during a Cabinet meeting, Lee emphasized the need of persistent efforts to promote unity in order to create a society that accepts diversity and shifts away from severe conflict.

“This is not a political maneuver,” Lee said. “If we are to return to a normal society, we must make efforts toward unity and inclusion more strongly and consistently,” said Yonhap News Agency.

“If only those who took part in the struggle for power are allowed to enjoy everything and everyone else is excluded, that is not politics but war,” he said.

Lee Hye-hoon, a former three-term conservative congressman, was selected by Lee on Sunday to lead the newly formed Ministry of Planning and Budget. However, given that she is known to have backed Yoon Suk Yeol’s campaign for martial rule, her candidacy has drawn condemnation from all sides of the political spectrum.

On Tuesday, Lee Hye-hoon expressed regret for her previous comments endorsing the disastrous martial rule. She has been referred to as a traitor by several opposition MPs.

The president further emphasized that such attempts to eradicate all groups due to differing opinions are exactly what qualify as rebellion.

He said that “the president’s greatest responsibility is to bring national unity,” and that having different opinions should be seen as an opportunity for collaboration rather than discomfort.

The Cabinet meeting on Monday was the first since the presidential complex was moved from Yongsan to Cheong Wa Dae, where it had been under the previous Yoon administration.

According to Lee, the move signifies the end of a phase that undermined the constitutional order and the restoration of South Korea’s democracy.

“The return to Cheong Wa Dae is a symbolic milestone that brings to a close the Yongsan era marred by the erosion of the constitutional order and demonstrates that sovereignty and democracy have been restored,” he said.

“We will further reinforce our principle and philosophy that the people are at the center of state affairs and that governance is achieved through the people,” he said.

After entering office in 2022, Yoon, who was ousted in April after his unsuccessful effort to implement martial rule, transferred the presidential headquarters to the military ministry facility in Yongsan. One of Lee’s early campaign promises was to return to Cheong Wa Dae.

Lee continued by emphasizing that the nation had survived the extraordinary catastrophe brought on by martial rule thanks to the resilience of its citizens, citing the most recent positive export and foreign investment statistics as evidence of the country’s recovery and return to normal.

“We will move forward toward a major leap for growth that benefits everyone,” he said.