Yong Hye-in, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, is drawing attention as she announces a press conference regarding her future.
The Basic Income Party stated on the 13th that Yong will hold a press conference at 11:30 a.m. in the National Assembly's communication hall.
Yong, who was nominated for the ministerial position on August 30, has faced calls for her resignation over issues related to her concurrent roles as a proportional representative lawmaker and a cabinet member.
Even if she is appointed as minister, Yong is not required to resign from her position as a lawmaker. Current Article 29 of the National Assembly Act allows lawmakers to concurrently hold the positions of Prime Minister or cabinet members. Since the Minister of Gender Equality and Family is a cabinet member, Yong would not automatically lose her legislative seat upon taking office.
On the 10th, Yong reaffirmed her stance during a press conference at the National Assembly, stating, "It is a principle that lawmakers can hold concurrent cabinet positions as permitted by law," and she reiterated her intention to maintain her legislative role. She also countered the tradition of proportional representatives resigning upon taking a ministerial position, arguing that resignation is not a legal requirement.
If Yong were to voluntarily resign from her legislative seat, the situation would change. Unlike district representatives, a proportional representative's seat would not require a by-election; instead, the next candidate on the party's list would succeed the seat. According to Article 200 of the Public Official Election Act, the Election Commission must determine the successor within ten days of receiving notification of the vacancy, following the order of the party's proportional representation candidate list.
Currently, the individual mentioned as a potential successor is Ko Jae-soon, the former secretary-general of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation. Yong returned to the Basic Income Party after being elected as the sixth proportional representative candidate for the Democratic Union in the 2024 general election. It is reported that the next candidate on the Democratic Union's list is Ko, who is in the 19th position.
As Yong holds another press conference just three days later, observers are keen to see whether she will maintain her previous position or reveal a new stance regarding her future.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.