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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Yoo Si-min’s Praise for Yong Hye-in as an Exceptional Young Politician Resurfaces

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
  • Writer and political commentator Yoo Si-min previously praised Basic Income Party lawmaker Yong Hye-in, now nominated to lead the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.
  • Yoo said Yong supports her arguments with statistics, logic or theory and remains composed during debates.
  • Yong’s nomination has drawn controversy after she said she would retain her proportional-representation seat if appointed minister.

Yoo Si-min’s past praise for Yong Hye-in has resurfaced just as the Basic Income Party lawmaker faces controversy over her nomination to lead the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.

Yoo, who has strongly criticized President Lee Jae-myung, said during a 2022 appearance on TBS that Yong was the young politician he liked most. He acknowledged that he did not agree with everything she said, but praised her for explaining the basis of her arguments, whether through statistics, logic or theory.

I liked her because she knew how to make an argument.

— Yoo Si-minHe explained why he favored Yong Hye-in during a 2022 TBS appearance.

“I liked her because she knew how to make an argument,” Yoo said, adding that this was how politics should be practiced.

He referred to Yong again during a 2023 lecture in Gochang County, North Jeolla Province, titled “Is Our Democracy Okay as It Is?” Yoo said her strongest quality was that she practiced politics in a distinctly youthful way without constantly describing herself as a young politician.

Yoo also praised her conduct in televised debates. Even when opponents made unreasonable or provocative remarks, he said, Yong delivered what she needed to say without becoming emotionally agitated. “She is far more impressive than I was when I first became a lawmaker,” he said.

She is far more impressive than I was when I first became a lawmaker.

— Yoo Si-minHe praised Yong’s composure and debating ability during a 2023 lecture.

Yoo argued that Yong should remain in the National Assembly, while expressing regret that the Basic Income Party was too small and suggesting that she might do better in a larger party. He described her as a politician with “far greater qualities, ability and integrity” than any young politician inside or outside the Democratic Party of Korea.

Yong was nominated on the 31st of the previous month. Her statement that she would keep her proportional-representation seat even if appointed minister has fueled debate, which has also expanded to her past involvement with a satellite party linked to the Basic Income Party.

She has far greater qualities, ability and integrity than any young politician inside or outside the Democratic Party of Korea.

— Yoo Si-minHe reiterated his praise for Yong’s political abilities.
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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