[Anchor]
Yong Hye-in, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality, has stepped down from her nomination. It appears that a decisive factor was receiving a message from the Democratic Party asking her to make a decision. Let us connect with reporter Go Jeong-hyeon to find out more details.
Reporter Go, it has only been 14 days since her nomination, hasn't it?
[Reporter]
Yong Hye-in, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, has announced that she will step down from her position as a ministerial nominee.
Her resignation comes 14 days after she was nominated on the 30th of last month.
Nominee Yong called for an emergency press conference this morning (the 13th) without disclosing the contents of the briefing beforehand.
During the press conference, which began at 11:30 AM, Nominee Yong stated, "My stance of resolving remaining suspicions through the personnel hearing remains unchanged." However, she added, "I was conveyed an intention from the Democratic Party asking me to make a decision, taking into consideration that there is not a broad national consensus regarding holding both a proportional representation lawmaker seat and a ministerial post simultaneously."
She continued, "I judged that it is realistically difficult to perform the duties while even the ruling party is expressing concerns, and therefore I am stepping down from the ministerial nomination."
Nominee Yong added, "I am sorry for failing to live up to expectations until the end," and promised, "I clearly pledge to walk the path to realize a gender-equal society, which I promised as a nominee, and to build a basic income Korea together with the Lee Jae-myung administration."
Just three days ago during a press conference, Nominee Yong had strongly drawn the line against voluntary resignation rumors, stating that holding both a proportional lawmaker seat and a ministerial post simultaneously is permitted by law in principle.
It is interpreted that she decided to resign as various suspicions emerged regarding the factionalization of the Basic Income Party and her past activities in an underground organization, public opinion worsened over her dual roles as a lawmaker and minister, and even the ruling party, the Democratic Party, ultimately urged her to make a decision.
An official from the Basic Income Party explained that yesterday, an official from the Democratic Party personally visited Nominee Yong to convey their stance, after which the nominee consulted with her party and decided to resign.
(Camera Reporter: Oh Young-chun, Kim Yong-woo | Video Editor: Yu Mi-ra)
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