Yong Hye-in, the candidate for the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, appears to have made her decision to resign on September 13 largely due to the advice of Kim Min-seok, the leader of the Democratic Party. On September 10, Yong had expressed her determination to address the allegations surrounding her, but as support from the ruling party waned, she ultimately stepped down. The People Power Party stated, "President Lee Jae-myung must apologize to the public for this personnel disaster."
Kim Tae-sun: "I conveyed Kim Min-seok's resignation advice to Yong Hye-in"
Kim Tae-sun, the chief secretary to Kim Min-seok, stated on Facebook that he conveyed the leader's advice for Yong to resign, which was based on public sentiment. He acknowledged that while the issue of holding both a ministerial and proportional representative position may not be a legal violation, it did not align with public expectations and sentiments.
Yong was embroiled in controversy after being nominated as the ministerial candidate on August 30, facing scrutiny over her dual roles as a minister and proportional representative, allegations of party favoritism, and her involvement with an organization accused of fostering a discriminatory culture. The situation worsened when testimonies from colleagues highlighted the presence of a sexist culture within that organization, raising questions about her qualifications for the ministerial role. Additionally, the National Assembly was unable to schedule a confirmation hearing due to a standoff between the ruling and opposition parties over witness selection.
In the midst of this controversy, Yong held a press conference on September 10, where she directly refuted the allegations against her. Regarding the dual role issue, she argued that if she resigned, the Basic Income Party, of which she is the only member in the National Assembly, would become an out-of-parliament party, asserting that holding both positions does not violate the constitution or laws. She also claimed that there were no procedural flaws in the party's operations and that her activities with the organization in question were unrelated to the Basic Income Party, as it was disbanded in 2017.
Despite her clarifications and her insistence that she would provide further details during the confirmation hearing, public opinion worsened. Various polls indicated ongoing controversy surrounding her candidacy, and support for the ruling party among the younger generation, particularly those in their 20s and 30s, began to decline. The Blue House, which had previously supported holding a confirmation hearing to allow Yong to explain herself, shifted its stance after her press conference, stating, "There was no consultation with the Blue House."
Ultimately, it seems that Kim Min-seok's call for Yong to make a decision led to her resignation. Yong explained, "I found it difficult to carry out my duties in light of the concerns expressed by the ruling party."
Blue House: "We respect the candidate's decision"...Opposition: "This is not the end with the candidate's resignation"
After Yong announced her intention to resign, Blue House spokesperson Kang Yu-jung stated, "We respect Yong's decision" and added that necessary follow-up procedures would be carried out according to established regulations. He interpreted Yong's decision as an effort to reduce the burden on national governance and public welfare.
The opposition People Power Party insisted that Yong's resignation should not be the end of the matter and pressured the government and ruling party. Representative Jang Dong-hyuk emphasized on Facebook that this is not just about the candidate's resignation but that the "leftist cartel" must be thoroughly investigated.
Floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik pointed out issues with the personnel verification system of the Blue House and the Democratic Party. He stated, "The various controversies surrounding the candidate should have been filtered out during the Democratic Party's two previous election nomination processes," calling it a clear failure of the party's vetting process.
He also criticized the Blue House, suggesting that if a simple question had been asked before the nomination, such as, "Are you okay with resigning from your position as a lawmaker?" this situation could have been avoided. He urged President Lee Jae-myung to apologize to the public for the "Yong Hye-in personnel disaster" and to take responsible action regarding the failed vetting by the Blue House personnel team.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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