Yong Hye-in, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, reiterated her decision not to resign from her position as a proportional representative lawmaker during a press conference held at the National Assembly on September 10.
During the conference, she stated, "The nomination of an opposition lawmaker as a minister is the first case since the Kim Dae-jung government and the DJP alliance, making it difficult to evaluate as a mere precedent."
She emphasized, "It is a principle that lawmakers can concurrently hold ministerial positions as permitted by law," and questioned whether the tradition of resigning from proportional representation positions has been perceived as a form of political patronage. She expressed agreement with the need for legislative discussion on the potential drawbacks of lawmakers holding ministerial roles, stating, "It is hard to agree with applying different principles and standards only to proportional representatives."
Yong added, "If my personal advancement had been more important than serving the nation and the people, I would not have accepted the ministerial position. I accepted the nomination to create a gender-equal society for all under the Lee Jae-myung government."
Addressing various allegations against her, she remarked, "Since my nomination, absurd accusations have been reported as if they were factual. Although I have been preparing for the confirmation hearing, the schedule has yet to be set. The fundamental cause seems to be the stubbornness of the People Power Party, and I feel disappointed that even some within the Democratic Party are being swept up in speculation and malicious manipulation."
Regarding the so-called 'ghost regional party' allegations against the Basic Income Party, to which she belongs, she clarified, "By law, a regional party must have an office address, and the only full-time staff member, who is also the chairperson, used their home address as the office."
In response to criticisms labeling her party as a 'family party' due to her spouse holding a party position, she stated, "There are no procedural flaws, and I consulted thoroughly with party officials and activists during the founding process and meeting preparations. After appointments, there are additional approval processes, so it is not solely my decision."
She further asserted, "My income alone is sufficient to support my family, and there is no reason to pay my spouse a salary of 2.5 million won from party funds."
On the controversy surrounding her involvement in an alleged 'under-organization' with discriminatory internal regulations, she acknowledged her participation, stating, "I do not intend to deny my involvement in the private faction. The faction disbanded in 2017 due to issues raised by my former colleagues regarding its discriminatory and hierarchical culture, which lacked the capacity for self-correction. I agree with my colleagues' concerns, and it was appropriate for a group with outdated cultural practices to disband."
After the press conference, when asked about Kim Gil-o, the CEO of Korea Board Games, related to the 'under-organization' allegations, she replied, "The private faction disbanded in 2017, and I have not been in contact since then."
When questioned about her willingness to step down due to high negative ratings in public opinion polls, she said, "I am aware that there are various opinions within the Democratic Party regarding the nomination by the appointing authority, but I have no further comments at this stage."
Meanwhile, the schedule for Yong's confirmation hearing has not yet been finalized. The Gender Equality and Family Committee of the National Assembly attempted to adopt a plan for the confirmation hearing during a full meeting, but the session was canceled due to a breakdown in negotiations over witness testimonies between the ruling and opposition parties.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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