Criticism Mounts Over Decision to Keep Proportional Representation Seat Despite Ministerial Nomination

[Anchor]

It has been a nearly unwritten rule that proportional representation lawmakers who are appointed to cabinet posts, such as ministers, step down to allow the next candidate on the list to succeed them. However, lawmaker Yong Hye-in of the Basic Income Party, who has been nominated as the Minister for Gender Equality, announced she will not give up her parliamentary seat, drawing a barrage of criticism from both conservative and progressive camps.

Reporter Park Jae-yeon has the story.


[Reporter]

Lawmaker Yong Hye-in of the Basic Income Party was nominated as the Minister for Gender Equality and Family.

[Yong Hye-in / Basic Income Party Lawmaker (Yesterday): (Could you also share a word regarding the controversy over holding concurrent parliamentary seats?) ......]

Having secured her second term as a proportional representative through the 2024 general election, Yong is the sole sitting lawmaker for the Basic Income Party.

In the political sphere, it has been hard to find exceptions to proportional representatives resigning from their parliamentary seats when taking on ministerial or high-level presidential office posts.

Unlike district lawmakers chosen directly by local voters, this is done to share opportunities with the next candidate in line and minimize legislative vacancies.

However, Yong stated via social media, "If I step down, our party becomes an extra-parliamentary party," adding, "I ask for your understanding regarding the difficulties faced by minor parties," making it clear she has no intention of stepping down.

This is because if she resigns, a person affiliated with the Democratic Party, the next in line from the proportional coalition party, would inherit the seat.

The People Power Party launched a direct attack, calling it "an epitome of privileged politics that seeks to enjoy all privileges" and "an insult to the 2030 younger generation."

[Jang Dong-hyeok / Leader of the People Power Party: The anger index of the 2030 generation has crossed the critical point, nearing an explosion.]

Criticism also came from the Justice Party, which stated, "She has worn a parliamentary badge twice through satellite parties that deceived the public, yet has never apologized," and noted, "She is a figure who welcomed the abolition of the prosecution's supplementary investigation powers despite concerns from victims."

The People Power Party pointed out a lack of expertise, noting that Yong has never proposed a bill under the jurisdiction of the National Assembly's Gender Equality and Family Committee. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party came to her defense, arguing that Yong, as a working mother, has worked hard for legislation balancing work and family life, expanding child allowances, and protecting victims of gender-based violence.

[Choi Min-hee / Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party: She has served on the Gender Equality and Family Committee and I believe she is a tailored talent who has taken the lead in promoting bills such as the partnership act.]

With criticisms from the People Power Party labeling it a "family party" on the grounds that Yong's spouse serves as the strategic planning deputy secretary-general of the Basic Income Party, the Basic Income Party retorted that "it is unfair to defame the party as being operated based on personal relationships."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
(Video Reported by Oh Young-chun, Shin Dong-hwan, Kim Yong-woo | Video Edited by Won Hyung-hee | Graphics by Cho Su-in, Hwang Se-yeon, Lee Ga-jin)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.