Seoul, Dec 30 (NationPress) South Korean President Lee Jae Myung emphasized the need for 'unity and inclusion' during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, following significant backlash from both ruling and opposition parties over his appointment of an opposition figure to a ministerial role.

In his address, Lee highlighted that ongoing efforts toward unity are crucial for transitioning to a society that fosters acceptance and moves away from extreme divisions. “This is not a political maneuver,” he stated. “If we are to return to a normal society, we must make efforts toward unity and inclusion more strongly and consistently,” reported the Yonhap News Agency.

Lee's nomination of Lee Hye-hoon, a former conservative lawmaker, to lead the newly formed Ministry of Planning and Budget has sparked criticism due to her previous support for Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law proposal. On Tuesday, Lee Hye-hoon issued an apology for her earlier comments endorsing the failed martial law, with some opposition lawmakers labeling her as a traitor.

The president remarked that attempts to eliminate groups based on differing perspectives amount to insurrection. “The president's greatest responsibility is to bring national unity,” he affirmed, noting that varying viewpoints should be seen as opportunities for synergy rather than discomfort.

Monday's Cabinet meeting was the first since the presidential office's relocation back to Cheong Wa Dae from Yongsan, which had been the presidential base under the previous Yoon administration. Lee characterized this relocation as a restoration of South Korea's democracy, marking the end of a period that had undermined the constitutional order.

He stated, “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,” further emphasizing the principle that the people should be at the heart of governance.

Yoon, who was ousted from office in April following his unsuccessful martial law attempt, had moved the presidential office to the defense ministry compound in Yongsan after taking office in 2022. Returning to Cheong Wa Dae was among Lee's early campaign promises.

Lee also stressed that the nation has navigated the extraordinary crisis sparked by martial law through the resilience of its citizens, citing recent positive export and foreign investment data as signs of recovery and normalization in governmental affairs. “We will move forward toward a major leap for growth that benefits everyone,” he concluded.