Yong Hye-in Evades Question on Resigning as Lawmaker, Facing Criticism from Ruling Party

[Anchor]

Yong Hye-in, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, has avoided giving a direct answer regarding whether she will resign from her proportional representative lawmaker position amid controversy over her plan to hold both roles concurrently. Criticism that concurrent holding of the posts is unacceptable continues to emerge even within the ruling party.

Reporter Jo Yoon-ha has the story.

[Reporter]

Nominee Yong Hye-in arrived at her confirmation hearing preparation office for the first time, three days after being nominated as a ministerial candidate.

She shared her aspirations as the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family.

[Yong Hye-in / Nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family: With the initial resolve to remain unwavering and sincere, I will strive to ensure that the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family of the people's sovereign government becomes the ministry closest to the people.]

Regarding criticisms from women's groups for supporting the abolition of prosecutors' supplementary investigation powers, she stated, "I will listen carefully to the voices in the field to ensure victims' rights and interests are not infringed upon," while also explaining her stance on pending issues such as the constituent requirements for the crime of rape and the swift introduction of abortion medication.

However, she evaded giving a direct answer on whether she would resign from her proportional representative lawmaker position, which has sparked the most controversy.

[Yong Hye-in / Nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family: Since the confirmation hearing process is a way of communicating with our public, I will prepare well for the hearing so that I can organize my thoughts and convey them effectively.]

Previously, Nominee Yong hinted through social media that she would maintain her proportional representative lawmaker position even if she becomes a minister, stating, "I ask for your understanding regarding the difficulties faced by minor parties."

Since 2000, it has been customary for proportional representative lawmakers nominated as ministerial candidates to resign from their legislative positions.

This is because while the resignation of a district lawmaker leaves constituents without their chosen representative and requires a costly by-election, a proportional representative seat is immediately succeeded by the next person on the list, preventing by-elections and gaps in legislative activities.

Criticisms have erupted even within the Democratic Party that Nominee Yong, who became a lawmaker twice solely through satellite party proportional representation, should not attempt to concurrently hold a ministerial post as well.

[Song Young-gil / Democratic Party Lawmaker (SBS Radio 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show'): I have doubts about what kind of appeal appointing this person as Minister of Gender Equality and Family would have to those in their 20s and 30s. It suddenly looks like a meteoric rise and receiving double or triple special favors.]

The People Power Party intensified its offensive, calling it "greedy politics that reveals avarice."

[Park Chung-kwon / Senior Spokesperson of the People Power Party: She is citing the difficulties of a minor party while brazenly granting herself preferential exceptions.]

Meanwhile, a civic group filed a police complaint against Nominee Yong on charges of abuse of power, taking issue with her use of the VIP lounge at Gimpo Airport with her family before departing for a trip to Jeju Island in 2023.

(Video by Lee Seung-hwan | Video Editing by Jeon Min-gyu)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.