Criticism Mounts Over Yong Hye-in’s Alleged Silence on Sexism in ‘Underground’ Organization

Yong Hye-in’s nomination to lead the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has triggered increasingly sharp criticism. Questions about her suitability now extend beyond her plan to hold a parliamentary seat and ministerial post at the same time. Former associates have also accused her of overlooking a sexist culture in an underground organization linked to her past Labor Party activities.

Yong built her political profile by criticizing mainstream parties. In a 2020 book about the founding of the Basic Income Party, she wrote that she did not believe she could change her party or society by joining a well-known mainstream party. She also rejected the idea that mainstream parties could create a new political generation by giving young people one or two proportional seats and presenting them as representatives of youth.

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Her election was merely the result of major parties taking advantage of loopholes in the electoral system to increase their seats, and was never coalition politics.

Soon after the book was published, however, Yong entered the National Assembly as a proportional representative through a Democratic Party satellite party in the 21st general election. She repeated the route in the 22nd general election. The Justice Party said her victories resulted from taking advantage of an electoral loophole used by major parties to increase their seats, calling it a breach of democratic procedures and social fairness rather than coalition politics.

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I cannot resign because the Basic Income Party cannot succeed to the proportional-representation seat under the institutional gap in coalition politics.

Her decision to keep her parliamentary seat if appointed minister has also revived earlier statements. In 2020, Yong joined a Basic Income Party event calling for the abolition of state subsidies for political parties and the introduction of a political basic income. After her nomination, she said she would not resign because the Basic Income Party could not succeed her under the existing institutional gap in coalition politics. She said her resignation could leave the party without a parliamentary representative and force it outside the Assembly. Former Justice Party lawmaker Jang Hye-young called that argument another pursuit of privilege through rule-breaking.

Kim Yun-young, a former Labor Party women’s committee chair, told Hankyoreh that Yong was a member of the underground organization and held influence through her external political work and communication with senior figures. Kim said Yong remained silent rather than supporting women who complained about sexist treatment. Yong did not answer reporters’ questions about alleged links to the organization as she entered her confirmation hearing office on June 4. Kim said Yong should explain and reflect on any break between the organization and the current Basic Income Party.

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When women said they were suffering greatly because of the organization’s sexism, Yong chose to stand by and remain silent rather than show solidarity.