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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Controversy Grows Over Yong Hye-in Holding Cabinet and Proportional Seats

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Democratic Party lawmakers disagree over whether Yong Hye-in must surrender her proportional-representation seat after being nominated as minister of gender equality and family.
  • Critics say the next candidate should inherit the seat, while supporters argue that resignation is not legally required and that she should explain her position at the confirmation hearing.
  • The controversy has expanded to Basic Income Party’s past participation in satellite parties and the employment of Yong’s husband by the party.

Yong Hye-in’s nomination as minister of gender equality and family has triggered an internal dispute over whether she can keep her proportional-representation seat in the National Assembly.

Democratic Party Supreme Council member Choi Min-hee said on SBS radio that resigning the seat before taking the ministerial post is not a legal requirement. She said voters could hear Yong’s explanation during the confirmation hearing and then make their judgment. Choi also described the choice of a 36-year-old working mother as positive from the perspective of giving women greater access to important positions.

Resigning the proportional-representation seat and going to the ministerial post is not legally required.

— Choi Min-heeThe Democratic Party Supreme Council member argued that Yong could explain her position during the confirmation hearing.

Another Democratic Party Supreme Council member, Park Sun-won, took the opposite view on YTN radio. He said proportional lawmakers enter the Assembly to represent a particular occupation or field, and should step down when another candidate is next in line. Lawmaker Jung Il-young likewise said the established practice of allowing the next proportional candidate to inherit the seat should be considered to minimize a gap in parliamentary representation.

If the next proportional candidate is in line, then of course it is right to resign the proportional-representation seat.

— Park Sun-wonThe Democratic Party Supreme Council member said Yong should give up the seat for the next candidate.

The dispute has also brought renewed criticism of the Basic Income Party’s participation in proportional satellite parties during the 21st and 22nd general elections. Justice Party leader Yang Kyung-gyu urged President Lee Jae-myung to withdraw Yong’s nomination, saying the issue concerned how the state should judge what he called a breach of democratic rules. Former Justice Party lawmaker Jang Hye-young argued that Yong should give up either the ministerial post or the parliamentary seat. A senior Democratic Party lawmaker also criticized Yong’s husband for receiving a salary as a party official in a small party with a strong “one-person party” character.

The presidential office said Yong should have an opportunity to respond to the questions raised about her. An official said the confirmation process should provide that opportunity, without taking a firm position on whether she should retain the seat.

If the parliamentary seat is important, give up the ministerial post. If the ministerial post is more valuable, give up the parliamentary seat.

— Yang Kyung-gyuThe Justice Party leader called for Yong to choose between the two positions.
About this summary

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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