“An Arrogant Decision That Ignores the Public”: 28 Civic Groups Demand Withdrawal of Yong Hye-in Nomination

Twenty-eight South Korean civic groups have demanded that President Lee Jae-myung withdraw the nomination of Basic Income Party lawmaker Yong Hye-in as minister of Gender Equality and Family.

The groups issued a joint statement on May 31 under the headline, “Withdraw immediately the nomination of Yong Hye-in, which amplifies gender conflict and destroys social consensus.” They said the appointment placed a figure associated with extreme ideological bias and gender conflict in a government position that should help promote national unity.

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An appointment disaster that puts a person with extreme ideological bias and a participant in gender conflict at the forefront of government appointments that should achieve national unity.

The organizations, including the Korea Alliance for Human Rights and Women and Women and Family, described the nomination as “a personnel disaster” and “an arrogant decision that completely ignores public consensus.”

They also objected to several bills Yong has proposed, including a civil partnership law, a comprehensive anti-discrimination law, an amendment to the Mother and Child Health Act, and a bill to abolish punishment for consensual same-sex acts in the military. The groups said the civil partnership bill would recognize unions between two adults, regardless of sex, as legal partnerships and would fundamentally dismantle the traditional marriage and family structure protected by the Constitution. The provided statement ends while describing the bill as effectively moving toward legalizing same-sex marriage.

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An arrogant decision that completely ignores public consensus.