Yong Hye-in, nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, stated regarding whether she will maintain her proportional representation lawmaker seat, "If I, the sole lawmaker belonging to the party, step down, the Basic Income Party faces the difficulty of being reduced to an extra-parliamentary party."

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 of a minor party, where an individual's decision is inevitably tied to the party's path forward."

This is interpreted as an effective declaration that she intends to retain her proportional representation lawmaker seat.

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

However, in the case of proportional representation lawmakers, it has become customary to resign so that the next candidate on the list can succeed the seat in order to minimize legislative vacancies.

Back in 2015, former Saenuri Party lawmaker Kang Eun-hee, who was nominated as the third Minister of Gender Equality and Family under the Park Geun-hye administration, also initially resisted giving up her proportional representation seat before ultimately resigning amid mounting criticism.

Nominee Yong emphasized, "I am well aware of the various concerns that my resignation as a lawmaker could be seen as a privilege or benefit," adding, "Had this been a personal matter and had I not been the only lawmaker from the Basic Income Party, I would not have hesitated to deliberate on whether to resign."

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

(Photo: Yonhap News)