"If You Want to Do Politics, Be Like Yong Hyein": Revisiting Yoo Si-min's Past Praise

"Evaluated as Superior to Young Politicians of the Democratic Party"


Past Remarks Revisited Amid Ministerial Nomination

As controversy continues to surround Yong Hyein, a member of the Basic Income Party who has been nominated as the candidate for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, past remarks by author Yoo Si-min, who highly praised Yong's political abilities, are once again drawing attention. Previously, in 2022, Yoo appeared on TBS and named Yong Hyein as his favorite young politician.

Writer Yoo Si-min. Photo by Heo Younghan

At the time, Yoo said, "Among young politicians, my favorite lawmaker is Yong Hyein," and highly valued the fact that Yong provides statistics, logic, and theoretical evidence when stating her arguments. He went on to commend Yong as "someone who knows how to make an argument," adding, "This is how politics should be done."

Yoo's favorable evaluation continued the following year. In a 2023 lecture titled "Is Our Democracy Okay As It Is?" he stated that Yong Hyein "should continue to serve in the National Assembly." Yoo particularly appreciated that Yong does not present her youth as a political asset. Rather than emphasizing herself as a "young politician," she prefers to be evaluated for her claims and actions as a lawmaker.

Yoo also praised Yong's debating style, noting that even when an opponent said something likely to provoke anger, Yong calmly maintained her position without becoming emotional. Yoo remarked that this was "far more admirable" than when he first started in politics. However, he did express regret about the small size of the Basic Income Party to which Yong belongs.

Yoo expressed his hope that Yong would continue her parliamentary work, saying, "Since she's already doing this, I wish she could do it with a bigger party." He went on to state that, compared to young politicians from the Democratic Party of Korea and others, Yong stands out for her excellent qualities and capabilities as a politician. As the appropriateness of Yong’s nomination as minister comes under growing scrutiny, Yoo’s assessments—made about three to four years ago—are now attracting renewed interest.

Hyun In Yong, Candidate for Minister of Gender Equality and Family. Photo by Hyunmin Kim

The biggest issue related to Yong’s candidacy is whether she should retain her seat as a proportional representative in the National Assembly. While it is legally permissible to serve as both a member of the Cabinet and as a lawmaker, it has been common practice for proportional representatives to give up their parliamentary seats upon being appointed as ministers. Yong has been reluctant to resign, citing the fact that she is the only lawmaker from the Basic Income Party. She maintains that stepping down would create a realistic challenge: the Basic Income Party would become a party with no seats in the National Assembly.

In response, calls for her resignation are coming not only from the opposition but also from some within the ruling party and progressive circles. It has also become a point of contention that Yong’s spouse works as a full-time party official in the Basic Income Party. The opposition has argued that Yong’s retention of her seat may be connected to continued entitlement to state subsidies for the party and her spouse’s salary as a party official.

Debate continues about Yong’s policy suitability as Minister of Gender Equality and Family. Some in women’s organizations have raised concerns about her longstanding advocacy for the abolition of prosecutorial supplementary investigation rights, arguing this could be detrimental to protecting sexual violence victims. On the other hand, some have offered a positive assessment of her youth, her experience as a working mother, and her political track record dealing with issues affecting the socially disadvantaged and basic income policy.

On September 2, Yong arrived at her office in Seodaemun District, Seoul, which had been set up to prepare for her confirmation hearing, and issued a statement that she is “listening carefully to concerns and worries” being raised about her. She avoided giving a direct answer on whether she would resign from her legislative post, but stated that she would fully prepare for the parliamentary confirmation hearing and explain her position to the public during the process.

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