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Yong Hye-in, the leader of the Basic Income Party, nominated as the Minister of Gender Equality and Family, has confirmed that she plans to continue holding her position as a proportional representative after her appointment.
According to a report by the Korea Economic Daily on the 30th, Oh Jun-ho, a candidate running for the next party leadership election of the Basic Income Party, stated in an interview that "it is legally possible for a minister and a member of the National Assembly to hold both positions," and conveyed that even if Yong is appointed, she will maintain her parliamentary position. Yong also mentioned to the Dong-A Ilbo, "I understand that there are no regulations prohibiting dual positions," and stated that she would clarify her stance after discussions with the ministry.
Yong entered the National Assembly as a proportional representative through the Democratic Party's proportional coalition party, the Democratic Citizens' Party, in the 21st general election, and was elected as a candidate of the Democratic United Party in the 22nd general election. Article 29 of the National Assembly Act allows members of the National Assembly to concurrently serve as ministers, meaning there is no obligation for Yong to resign if appointed. However, it has become a political custom that if a proportional representative becomes a minister, the next candidate in line inherits the parliamentary position.
If Yong resigns from her parliamentary position, the next candidate, Ko Jae-soon, a former secretary-general of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation affiliated with the Democratic Party, would inherit the position. Yong's consideration of retaining her position is interpreted as a choice to maintain the Basic Income Party's only seat in the National Assembly, as resigning could risk the party becoming an out-of-parliament party. Born in 1990, Yong would set the record as the first '90s-born minister' if officially appointed after the personnel hearing.