Interest in Basic Income Party lawmaker Yong Hye-in, who has been nominated as the Minister of Gender Equality and Family, has extended even to her bangs.

Candidate Yong maintains a hairstyle where white hair is clustered on one side amidst her black hair, prompting some reactions wondering if it is streak dyeing.

The claim suggests that Candidate Yong, born in 1990, intentionally added white hair streaks to project a more mature image in the political arena, which largely consists of older demographics.

Amidst this, attention is also drawing to the fact that Candidate Yong previously clarified, "It is not dyed, but actual premature grey hair."

According to the search volume index Google Trends today (Sept. 2), search volume related to Candidate Yong's white hair surged by over 5,000% compared to both the previous month and the same period last year, recording the recent peak index of 100.

This index indicates relative trends, setting the highest search volume peak at 100.

Candidate Yong has already denied the dyeing allegations on multiple occasions.

Back in 2023, appearing on a YTN radio program, she joked, "If there is a hair salon that can bleach hair this well into white, please let me know," and added, "There are some genetic factors, and I've got a lot of white hair lately."

In January of the following year, when a netizen asked, "Did you purposely get hair streaks?", she replied directly, explaining, "The few strands of grey hair I had increased to the point where I cannot pull them out after working in the National Assembly."

She has even revealed her dyeing process directly.

Candidate Yong uploaded a video titled 'White Hair Dyeing Vlog' on her official YouTube channel and shared the dyeing process on social media and other platforms.

Candidate Yong stated that even if she becomes a minister, she will not resign from her lawmaker position and will hold both roles concurrently. On her way to the personnel hearing preparation office today, she said, "I am well aware that there are many worries and concerns," adding, "I will organize and convey my thoughts well at the hearing."

(Reported by Kim Jiuk | Video by Ahn Jun-hyeok | Graphics by Lee Jung-joo | Produced by SBS Digital News | Source: YouTube 'Yong Hye-in')