Yong Hye-in Effectively Refuses to Step Down as Lawmaker... "Please Understand Minor Party's Difficulties"

Yong Hye-in, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, stated regarding the maintenance of her proportional representation lawmaker seat, "There are difficulties where the Basic Income Party would become an extra-parliamentary party if I, as the party's sole lawmaker, were to step down."

Nominee Yong made the remarks on her social media on the 31st, saying, "I bow my head and ask for your understanding regarding the difficulties faced by a minor party, where an individual's decision is inevitably tied to the party's future."

This is interpreted as an announcement that she will effectively maintain her proportional representation lawmaker seat.

Article 29 of the National Assembly Act stipulates that lawmakers may concurrently hold positions as members of the State Council.

However, in the case of proportional representation lawmakers, stepping down so that the next candidate in line can succeed to the lawmaker seat has become established as a convention to minimize legislative vacuums.

In 2015, former lawmaker Kang Eun-hee of the Saenuri Party, who was nominated as the third Minister of Gender Equality and Family under the Park Geun-hye administration, also initially attempted not to give up her proportional representation seat, but eventually resigned amid growing criticism.

Nominee Yong emphasized, "I am well aware of the various concerns that my resignation from the lawmaker position could be seen as a privilege or benefit," adding, "This is an individual matter for me, and if I were not the sole lawmaker of the Basic Income Party, I would not have hesitated to ponder whether to resign."

Regarding the controversy that she received preferential treatment by being re-elected exclusively through proportional representation via the Democratic Party's satellite party, she added, "I have already expressed my position to the party that I will not run as a proportional representation candidate in the next general election."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.