Why is the Democratic Party of Korea reviewing Yong Hye-in’s gender equality minister nomination carefully?

The party said it is responding to growing criticism over her nomination and will take the issue seriously from the perspective of the people. Its leadership is urgently gathering assessments and views from both inside and outside the party.

What did Yong Hye-in say about keeping her National Assembly seat if she becomes gender equality minister?

Yong reiterated that she would keep her proportional representation seat even if appointed to the Cabinet. She argued that if she resigned, the Basic Income Party would lose its parliamentary status because the seat would pass to the next candidate on the proportional representation list.

How unpopular is Yong Hye-in’s nomination in the Gallup Korea survey?

In the survey released Friday, 61 percent of respondents said Yong was unfit for the post. Only 13 percent said she was suitable, and a presidential official said she should be allowed to explain herself at the confirmation hearing before any decision is made.

DPK says will take controversy over gender minister nominee 'seriously'

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Summary

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea said Friday it will take the controversy over Rep. Yong Hye-in’s nomination as gender equality minister seriously in Seoul. Party senior spokesperson Park Sung-joon said the leadership is urgently gathering assessments and views from inside and outside the party. The move came after Yong repeated that she intended to keep her proportional representation seat in the National Assembly even if appointed to the Cabinet.

Key Facts

Park Sung-joon said the party leadership is urgently gathering assessments and views from both inside and outside the party about Yong Hye-in’s nomination.
Under current law, lawmakers can serve in the Cabinet while remaining in the National Assembly, but proportional representatives have customarily given up their seats when joining the Cabinet.
Yong Hye-in is the sole lawmaker of the minor Basic Income Party, and she said her party would become non-parliamentary if she resigned as a lawmaker.
A Gallup Korea survey released Friday said 61 percent of respondents viewed Yong as unfit for the job, while 13 percent considered her suitable.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 11, 2026 2:37 pm KST

Yong Hae-in, nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, answers questions from the press at Seodaemun District, Seoul, Friday. Yonhap

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) said Friday it will take the controversy over the nomination of Rep. Yong Hye-in as gender equality minister "seriously" amid growing criticism over her nomination.

DPK senior spokesperson Park Sung-joon made the remarks after a meeting of the party's supreme council, saying the party leadership is "urgently gathering assessments and views from both within and outside the party" about her nomination.

"We will take the issue seriously from the perspective of the people," he told reporters.

His remarks came a day after Yong reiterated at a press conference her intention to keep her proportional representation seat in the National Assembly even if appointed to the Cabinet post.

Under current law, lawmakers can double as members of the Cabinet, though proportional representatives have customarily given up their parliamentary seats to join the Cabinet, passing on the post to the next candidate in line on the proportional representation list.

Yong, who is the sole lawmaker of the minor Basic Income Party, earlier noted that her party would become a non-parliamentary party should she resign as a lawmaker.

She has since faced criticism for refusing to give up her Assembly seat, as well as allegations of nepotism involving her husband and alleged ties to a left-leaning underground political party.

According to a Gallup Korea survey released earlier in the day, 61 percent of the respondents said Yong was unfit for the job, while 13 percent considered her suitable.

A presidential official earlier said it was necessary to allow the nominee to explain herself during the confirmation hearing before making a decision on her appointment.

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