Yong Hye-in Steps Down as Ministerial Nominee 14 Days After Nomination

[Anchor]

Yong Hye-in, a lawmaker of the Basic Income Party, stepped down as the nominee for the Minister of Gender Equality and Family today (September 13), 14 days after being nominated. Just three days ago, she held a press conference expressing her intention to serve as both a lawmaker and a minister. However, amid worsening public sentiment and a request for her voluntary resignation even from the Democratic Party, she ultimately gave up her path to the ministry.

First, we have a report from Go Jeong-hyeon.

[Reporter]

Holding a press conference at the National Assembly this morning, proportional representative Yong Hye-in of the Basic Income Party announced that she would step down from her nomination for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, stating, "There was nothing I was not proud of, so I wanted to explain everything one by one at the confirmation hearing."

This comes 14 days after her nomination on August 30.

She also revealed, "I was informed by the Democratic Party that there is not a broad public consensus regarding holding both the proportional lawmaker seat and the cabinet post, and that I should make a decision," ultimately choosing to keep her lawmaker seat while giving up the ministerial post.

[Yong Hye-in / Lawmaker, Basic Income Party: In a situation where even the ruling party is expressing concerns, I determined that it is realistically difficult to carry out the duties. I am stepping down from my nomination for the ministerial post as of today.]

The Basic Income Party stated that it received the views from the Democratic Party side yesterday and had no separate communication with the Blue House. Meanwhile, Lawmaker Kim Tae-seon, chief of staff to Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok, stated that he conveyed leader Kim's advice to voluntarily resign, which synthesized public sentiment, to Lawmaker Yong.

Just three days ago, Lawmaker Yong maintained the position that she would not give up either her lawmaker position or the ministerial post. At her press conference back then, she even argued that "some parts of the Democratic Party are also swept up in groundless speculation and malicious agitation."

[Yong Hye-in / Lawmaker, Basic Income Party (on September 10): Holding concurrent positions is permitted by law in principle. We must look back on whether the custom of resigning from a proportional representative seat has been viewed among politicians as a division of spoils.]

However, immediately after that press conference, a cold current spread within the Democratic Party, with reactions such as, "She should have at least expressed regret," and, "Is she demanding that the Blue House not withdraw the nomination?" Analysts suggest that when even leader Kim Min-seok stepped up to urge a decision, Lawmaker Yong could no longer hold out.

Lawmaker Yong concluded her press conference today with the remark, "I will devote myself to legislative activities with a mature attitude." Meanwhile, the People Power Party urged that stepping down from the nomination does not mean the raised suspicions are over, calling for relevant investigations and her resignation from the National Assembly.

(Camera: Oh Young-chun | Video Editing: Yu Mi-ra | Design: Lee Jong-jung)

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