Park Ki-hong, the husband of Minister of Gender Equality and Family candidate Yong Hye-in, has been elected as a supreme council member of the Basic Income Party.
The Basic Income Party held a simultaneous nationwide party election from September 3 to 6 to select its new leadership and party officials.
Park Ki-hong, former strategic planning deputy secretary-general of the party and husband of the ministerial candidate, ranked third among four candidates in the supreme council race with a final vote share of 20.85%.
Oh Jun-ho, former co-leader of the Basic Income Party, ran unopposed for party leader and was elected with a final vote share of 93.89%.
Oh previously served as a secretary in Yong's parliamentary office.
Kim Jin-seo, who ran alone, was elected as the youth supreme council member. Kim also has a background of working as a secretary in Yong's office.
Previously, People Power Party lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo claimed via social media that "the Basic Income Party is effectively a party controlled by a single individual, Yong Hye-in."
Ahn criticized, "Has there ever been a party where a single lawmaker, her family, and her aides monopolize the positions of party leader and supreme council members?" and raised questions, asking, "Why should the public's tax money be used for a party that treats Yong Hye-in like a supreme authority?"
As various controversies continue following Yong's nomination as a ministerial candidate, attention is focusing on Park's future role within the party now that he has joined the leadership.
During the supreme council meeting today, Oh made it clear that he intends to support Yong's appointment as minister.
Oh stated, "Minister Yong Hye-in and the Basic Income Party will run together to ensure that the Lee Jae-myung administration's Ministry of Gender Equality and Family delivers results."
Reported by Jung Da-eun | Video by Ahn Jun-hyeok | Graphics by Sumin | Produced by SBS Digital News
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