Yong Hye-in has resigned from her position as the candidate for Minister of Gender Equality and Family. She indicated her decision was made to avoid burdening the government's operations amid a stalled confirmation hearing and requests from the ruling party for her to step down.
Yong Hye-in held an emergency press conference on the 13th at the National Assembly's communication hall, stating, "I am officially resigning from my position as the candidate for Minister of Gender Equality and Family in the Lee Jae-myung administration as of today." This comes just 14 days after her nomination by President Lee on August 30.
While reiterating her commitment to resolve any allegations through the confirmation process, she acknowledged the ruling party's wishes.
She explained, "I received a message from the Democratic Party respecting the situation of both the candidate and the Basic Income Party, but considering the lack of public consensus on holding both a proportional representative position and a ministerial role, I was asked to make a decision. Understanding that, I also contemplated deeply."
Yong added, "Given that the ruling party expressed concerns, I judged it practically difficult to carry out the role. Furthermore, I believe that stopping here is necessary to continue the spirit of solidarity within the Democratic Party, the Basic Income Party, and the progressive camp."
She also expressed disappointment towards the opposition and the media, stating, "Over the past two weeks, the behavior of the People Power Party, which mocked and belittled minor parties while abandoning candidate verification, and the malicious reporting by the media that postponed fact-checking, has continued. I wanted to clarify my position at the confirmation hearing, but the opposition refused to schedule it."
Yong expressed her regret, saying, "I am sorry for not being able to meet the expectations of the President, who entrusted me with this significant responsibility, and the citizens who supported me. I will humbly reflect on the criticisms of my shortcomings and return to my original intention to focus on legislative activities aimed at creating a society of gender equality for all."
Since her nomination, Yong has faced controversy over the appropriateness of holding both a proportional representative position and a ministerial role. Additionally, allegations of favoritism regarding her spouse's appointment within the Basic Income Party led to calls for her resignation from both the opposition and within the ruling party.
Amid this turmoil, Yong held an emergency press conference on the 10th. Contrary to expectations that she would announce her resignation, she stated at the time, "The dual role of a National Assembly member and a minister is legally permissible," showing her determination to confront the situation head-on.
However, public sentiment worsened, and as concerns from the ruling party grew, particularly in light of declining support for women's rights among the younger generation, it is believed that she ultimately decided to resign.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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