Park Gi-hong, the husband of Minister of Gender Equality and Family nominee Yong Hye-in, has been elected as a member of the highest committee of the Basic Income Party. As controversies surrounding the 'family party' and allegations of an informal organization arise, the inclusion of his spouse in the party leadership is expected to intensify the debate.
On September 7, the Basic Income Party announced the results of its nationwide party leadership election for the second half of the year, electing Oh Jun-ho, a former co-chair, as the new party leader. Oh, who ran unopposed, received 93.89% of the final vote.
In the highest committee election, party spokesperson Noh Seo-young secured first place with 35.16%, followed by current committee member Shin Ji-hye with 28.50%. Park Gi-hong was elected as a committee member with 20.85%, placing third.
According to Yonhap News, Oh stated during the committee meeting, "We will work together with Minister Yong Hye-in and the Basic Income Party to ensure that the Gender Equality and Family Ministry under the Lee Jae-myung government achieves results. We will do our utmost to make the gender equality policies of the Lee Jae-myung government the most successful in history."
Oh served as co-chair with Yong from 2022 to 2024 and currently heads the Basic Income Policy Research Institute. He also has experience working as an aide in Yong's office.
As Park Gi-hong joins the party leadership alongside individuals close to Yong, concerns about the appropriateness of these appointments have emerged. Oh responded to the so-called 'under-organization' controversy, stating, "This is completely untrue," and announced plans to take legal action against the spread of false information.
Meanwhile, Yong did not provide specific answers regarding various allegations surrounding her. According to Yonhap, when asked by reporters on her way to the confirmation hearing preparation office whether she would maintain her proportional representation seat or proceed with the hearing, she replied, "I will address that during the hearing."
Under National Assembly law, government officials can hold a parliamentary seat. However, it has become customary for proportional representatives to resign to allow subsequent candidates to take over, minimizing legislative gaps.
Additionally, allegations have surfaced regarding the appointment of her spouse to a key party position without democratic procedures and claims of tax evasion through party fee payments. Yong's camp has countered that the payment of party fees is a standard political activity carried out with a sense of responsibility as the only member of the National Assembly from her party.
Further controversies surrounding Park Gi-hong have also emerged. Kim Yoon-young, former chair of the Women's Committee of the Labor Party, claimed on JTBC on September 4 that Park suggested using Yong as a figurehead during the silent march for the Sewol ferry disaster.
As Yong's confirmation hearing approaches, there is growing interest in how the related allegations will be addressed in light of Park's entry into the party leadership.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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