Yong Hye-in, the nominee for minister of gender equality and family, has said she will not give up her proportional-representation seat in the National Assembly, prompting continued calls from political circles for her resignation as a lawmaker. Yong has kept silent on the issue, repeating only that she will explain herself at her confirmation hearing.
Arriving on the 3rd at her confirmation hearing preparation office at the Korea Youth Activity Promotion Institute in Seoul's Seodaemun District, Yong told reporters asking about the calls to relinquish her seat, "I will explain in detail at the confirmation hearing," before entering the building.
She did not respond to questions on whether her position was becoming a burden on the Lee Jae-myung administration, or whether she was holding on to her seat to protect her party's state subsidies.
Members of the Mirae Party, a progressive youth party, gathered along her route to the office that day to demand she step down as a lawmaker. "While 1.5 million young people are struggling without jobs, holding two posts to protect party interests makes no sense," they said.
A day earlier, when asked whether keeping her seat amounted to special treatment, Yong said, "There are various views, and I am listening to the many concerns and worries," adding that she would prepare thoroughly for the hearing.
