Basic Income Party Proposes Ban on Lawmakers Holding Cabinet Posts After Yong Hye-in's Resignation

The Basic Income Party has proposed pushing for an amendment to the National Assembly Act that would ban lawmakers from concurrently serving as cabinet ministers, regardless of whether they represent local constituencies or are proportional representatives.

This proposal comes just a day after Representative Yong Hye-in stepped down as a candidate for Minister of Gender Equality and Family amid controversy over holding concurrent roles as a minister and a lawmaker.

During a Supreme Council meeting held at the central party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, today (Sept. 14), Basic Income Party leader Oh Jun-ho stated, "If the principle of mutual checks and balances between the executive and legislative branches is important, there is no reason to allow cabinet posts for local constituency lawmakers while demanding only proportional representatives to resign."

He continued, "Let us bring to the public arena a plan to amend the National Assembly Act so that lawmakers cannot concurrently serve as state council members, without distinguishing between local constituency and proportional representatives."

Oh argued, "Let us now resolve the issue of lawmakers concurrently serving as cabinet ministers through a system," adding, "Let us establish a principle that individuals elected by the public as legislators should check the executive branch in the National Assembly, while lawmakers appointed as cabinet ministers must step down from their parliamentary seats."

This proposal came immediately after Representative Yong stepped down as a candidate for Minister of Gender Equality and Family.

Representative Yong voluntarily resigned yesterday, two weeks after being nominated as a candidate.

Previously, during an emergency press conference on the 10th, Representative Yong maintained that holding both roles as a minister and a lawmaker is permitted under current law, stating, "I will fulfill my roles in both the government and the National Assembly."

The Basic Income Party had also initially maintained the stance that there were no issues with holding concurrent positions.

Supreme Council member Shin Ji-hye met with reporters following a press conference at the National Assembly on the 7th and said, "There are many opinions that there has been no precedent of a proportional representative concurrently serving as a minister," but added, "A new path should always be a challenge and an attempt so that a new precedent can be created."

Reported by Kim Jiuk | Video by Lee Yujin | Graphics by Yook Dohyun | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.