Candidate’s Husband Received Monthly Salary of About 3 Million Won From Basic Income Party

The husband of Yong Hye-in, the candidate to lead South Korea’s Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, has been receiving nearly 3 million won a month from the Basic Income Party, according to party accounting records obtained by Dong-A Ilbo.

Park Ki-hong, the party’s deputy chief for strategic planning, received between 2.96 million and 3.07 million won each month this year. He joined the party at its founding as secretary-general in 2020 and has since held several senior posts. His monthly pay in the party’s early days stood in the 1 million-won range.

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Was there really a so-called behind-the-scenes organization manipulating the process? Where did the money and mobilization capacity come from to gather 20,000 party members nationwide in just a few months?

The disclosures also showed that five of Yong’s nine current parliamentary aides previously served as Basic Income Party officials or regional committee heads. The figures have fueled criticism from opposition lawmakers, who argue that Yong is refusing to give up her parliamentary seat so the party can continue receiving state subsidies.

The National Election Commission says the Basic Income Party received 277.09 million won in subsidies in the third quarter. If a lawmaker also serves as a minister, the lawmaker receives only the ministerial salary, but parliamentary staff continue to be paid and the office remains in operation, according to the report.

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She suddenly rose to prominence and received preferential treatment two or three times over. It will be difficult for public opinion to accept.

Opposition lawmakers have also questioned whether an underground organization linked to Yong’s former party, the Labor Party, still influences her and the Basic Income Party. People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won asked where the money and organizational capacity came from to recruit 20,000 members nationwide within months. Democratic Party lawmaker Song Young-gil said Yong had received multiple preferential benefits and that public opinion would struggle to accept her rapid rise.

The presidential office denied a report that it had conveyed its view on whether Yong should retain her parliamentary seat. Asked about claims that holding both positions amounted to an exclusive privilege, Yong gave a brief reply while arriving at her confirmation hearing office: “I will prepare well for the hearing.”

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I will prepare well for the hearing.