Political controversy continues surrounding the maintenance of proportional representative status by Minister of Gender Equality and Family nominee Yong Hye-in.
The ruling bloc has stepped up to defend nominee Yong, emphasizing her competence.
Democratic Party Supreme Council Member Choi Min-hee stated this morning on SBS Radio's "Kim Taehyun's News Show," "Yong has the capability to serve as a proportional representative twice," adding, "I hope she will be evaluated in a balanced manner."
Regarding Yong's announcement that she will not resign from her lawmaker position even if appointed minister, Supreme Council Member Choi emphasized, "Resigning from a proportional representative lawmaker position to take a ministerial post is not a legally binding requirement."
[Choi Min-hee / Supreme Council Member, Democratic Party: She has the capability to serve as a proportional representative twice. And resigning from the proportional post to take a ministerial position is not a legally binding requirement, is it? So I hope this can be evaluated in a balanced way.]
Pro-ruling leaning broadcaster Kim Ou-jun also addressed the special situation where the Basic Income Party would become an extra-parliamentary party if Yong were to resign, emphasizing on his YouTube broadcast, "This is not a matter of an individual's resignation, but an issue of the party's very survival and the first case in constitutional history," adding, "Since there is no precedent to follow in this special situation, she does not need to resign."
On the other hand, the People Power Party launched an all-out offensive against nominee Yong.
People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won targeted nominee Yong, announcing plans to propose a so-called "Parasite Income Prevention Act" to prevent cases where individuals elected through satellite parties return later.
The stated purpose is to prevent the ill effects of the semi-mixed member proportional representation system by excluding parties that return through disguised expulsion from the allocation of state subsidies.
Sharp reactions regarding nominee Yong's nomination also emerged from within the broader pan-ruling camp.
Former Justice Party lawmaker Jang Hye-young pointed out, "It is an inappropriate appointment."
Regarding Yong's explanation that she will maintain her lawmaker position citing the specificity of a minor party, former lawmaker Jang strongly criticized it as "sophistry aimed at grabbing both the legislative seat gained through expedients and the ministerial position."
Former Democratic Party Deputy Spokesperson Ha Heon-gi also pointed out, "Since it is a seat allocated within the framework of a proportional coalition party, it is bound to be perceived by the public as greed."
(Reported by Lee Hyeon-yeong | Video by Lee Ui-seon | Graphics by Sumin Lee | Video from SBS Kim Taehyun's Political Show | Produced by SBS Digital News)
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