'Yong Hyein Risk' Emerges Within Democratic Party...Park Jihyun Says, "If There Is No Clear Justification for Ministerial Change, It Should Be Reconsidered"

Concerns Over 'Hyein Yong Risk' Emerge Within the Ruling Bloc

Ji-hyun Park: "If There Is No Justification, the Nomination Should Be Reconsidered"

Controversy surrounding Hyein Yong, a lawmaker from the Basic Income Party nominated as the candidate for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, is now spreading within the ruling bloc. In particular, criticism is growing over her stated intention to retain her parliamentary seat even if appointed as minister, with critics arguing this constitutes political privilege. On the same issue, Ji-hyun Park, former interim leader of the Democratic Party, asserted that the nomination should be reconsidered if there is no clear justification for changing the minister.

In June 2023, at the Democratic Party's office in the National Assembly, Lee Jae-myung, then leader of the Democratic Party, presented a letter of appointment as the advisory group leader of the Basic Society Committee to Yong Hye-in, then co-representative of the Basic Income Party, during the 'Regional Basic Society Committee Chair Appointment Ceremony.' Photo by Yonhap News

On September 2, Ji-hyun Park wrote on Facebook, “There is something we are missing amid all this commotion over the candidate. Is there truly any justification for replacing the minister this time?” she said, raising doubts about the decision.

"Why replace a minister after just one year in office?"

Park continued, “Minister Min-gyeong Won has held the position for only a year. So what is the reason for replacing the Minister of Gender Equality and Family now?” She added, “Moreover, Minister Won has spent her short tenure actively listening to voices from the field and striving to advance gender equality policies. There have not even been minor issues or controversies related to her service.”

She went on, “That is why the question must be asked: Why replace the minister now, without allowing even the minimum amount of time to listen to the field, make policy, and improve the system? Gender equality policies are not something that can produce results simply by changing the minister according to an administration’s needs. For policies that directly shape the lives of women, youth, families, and caregivers, consistency and sustainability are especially important.” She emphasized that, “Replacing the leader who has guided these policies with the trust of those at the grassroots ultimately does nothing but set back the entire gender equality agenda.”

On Holding Two Positions: "Privileges Must Go First"

Park also addressed Yong’s stance on retaining her parliamentary seat on the previous day, September 1. She criticized the move, saying, “If one wants to talk about equality, one should first give up on privileges,” and expressed concern that a proportional representative lawmaker would try to serve concurrently as minister.

Hyein Yong, nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, is arriving at the office prepared for the confirmation hearing in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul on the 2nd. Photo by Yonhap News

She added, “I feel disappointed by the intention to retain both a ministerial post and a position as a proportional representative lawmaker.” She pointed out that the semi-interlinked proportional representation system was introduced so that more diverse voices from the public could be reflected in the National Assembly, but its intent was undermined by the major parties’ use of satellite parties.

She also highlighted that Yong first entered the National Assembly in 2020 as a proportional representative of the Democratic Party’s satellite party, the Together Citizens’ Party, and was reelected in 2024 through another proportional coalition led by the Democratic Party. She argued that refusing to give up her seat in parliament even after becoming a minister does not align with the ministry’s values of fairness and equality.

Park clarified that she was not denying the value of Yong’s prior legislative activities but drew a clear line, stating that the issue of political privilege is separate. “Opportunities must be equal, and procedures must be fair,” she stressed. “The Minister of Gender Equality and Family symbolizes the value of equality.”

She urged President Jaemyung Lee to reconsider the nomination, stating, “I hope the President will reconsider this ministerial appointment. The course of the candidate’s political career must be examined to see if it truly complies with values of fairness and equality. If someone who has benefited most from the dubious satellite party system is made a symbol of equality, it would mock the very value of equality rather than advance gender equality.”

"Meeting Public Expectations Is Important"...Growing Concerns Within the Ruling Bloc

Seonwon Park, top member of the Democratic Party, appeared on YTN Radio on the same day and said, “If there are subsequent rankings on the proportional representative list, it is natural to resign from the current proportional seat,” addressing Yong by saying, “Now that you are a candidate for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, I think you should seriously consider resigning your seat.”

Democratic Party lawmaker Ilyoung Jeong also wrote on Facebook, “There is a clear precedent that when a proportional representative moves to a ministerial post, the seat should be vacated and filled by the next in line, minimizing legislative vacancy. Reasonable decisions from the public’s point of view are extremely important.”

Yong was nominated as the candidate for Minister of Gender Equality and Family on August 30. If her nomination is confirmed following the confirmation hearing, she will become the first minister born in the 1990s.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.