Why did the presidential office ask Gender Equality Minister Won Min-kyong to steady the ministry?

The request came after Rep. Yong Hye-in withdrew her candidacy last month amid controversy over the former nominee’s plan to keep her parliamentary seat if appointed. Won said the office wanted her to steady the organization and keep the ministry functioning.

What did Won Min-kyong say she would focus on after the nominee withdrew?

She said she would work with staff to steadfastly push policy tasks reported to the president and the public in July. Her remarks came during a briefing marking the first anniversary of the ministry’s reorganization.

Gender equality minister says presidential office asked her to 'steady' ministry

Q: How was the Gender Equality Ministry reorganized before Won Min-kyong’s latest remarks?

The ministry was relaunched under a revised government reorganization law in October last year after facing possible disbandment under the previous administration of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. The article says it was newly launched and later marked the first anniversary of that reorganization.

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Summary

Gender Equality Minister Won Min-kyong said the presidential office asked her to steady the ministry after Rep. Yong Hye-in withdrew as nominee. Won linked the request to keeping policy work moving and said she would push tasks reported to the president and the public in July. The ministry marked the first anniversary of its reorganization after being relaunched under a revised law last October.

Key Facts

Rep. Yong Hye-in of the Basic Income Party withdrew her candidacy last month amid controversy over plans to keep her parliamentary seat if appointed minister.
Won said Cheong Wa Dae asked her to steady the organization after Yong’s withdrawal.
The ministry was newly launched under a revised government reorganization law in October last year after facing possible disbandment under the previous administration of former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 1, 2026 3:01 pm KST

Gender Equality Minister Won Min-kyong, center, speaks during a briefing marking the first anniversary of the ministry's reorganization at the government complex in central Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

Gender Equality Minister Won Min-kyong said Thursday the presidential office has asked her to "steady" her ministry, apparently signaling her retention after the nominee to replace her withdrew amid political controversy.

Won made the remarks after Rep. Yong Hye-in of the minor Basic Income Party withdrew her candidacy last month amid controversy over the former nominee's plans to keep her parliamentary seat if she was appointed as minister.

When asked by reporters whether she would keep her post, Won responded that Cheong Wa Dae had requested that she "steady the organization" following Yong's withdrawal.

"(I) will make efforts with the staff to steadfastly push for the policy tasks reported to the president and the public in July," she said in a briefing marking the first anniversary of the ministry's reorganization.

The ministry was newly launched under a revised government reorganization law in October last year after facing possible disbandment under the previous administration of former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

The ministry has pushed for new projects under Won, including launching a program offering free public sanitary pads in 12 municipalities in July. The ministry plans to expand it into a nationwide program next year.

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