"We are watching this seriously from the public's perspective"

Yong Hye-in, nominee for minister of gender equality and family, leaves a press conference at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on Thursday afternoon. (Lee Sang-seop)
Yong Hye-in, nominee for minister of gender equality and family, leaves a press conference at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on Thursday afternoon. (Lee Sang-seop)

The Democratic Party of Korea said young people's anger over gender equality and family minister nominee Yong Hye-in — who has drawn controversy since announcing her intention to hold both a proportional representation seat and a cabinet post simultaneously — cannot be ignored and that some form of response is needed.

Democratic Party spokesperson Jo Gye-won made the remarks to reporters after a briefing at the National Assembly on Saturday, saying the party is "aware that various discussions are taking place within the party" and is "watching this matter seriously from the public's perspective."

Jo said the party leadership may issue a position at some point, adding that the issue could also be taken up at the senior party-government consultative meeting scheduled for Sunday. He added, "I think we need to properly review this from the public's perspective and discuss how to respond."

Earlier, Democratic Party chief spokesperson Park Seong-jun told reporters after a Supreme Council meeting on Friday that the party is "looking at this gravely from the public's perspective" and that the leadership is "urgently gathering assessments and opinions from inside and outside the party."

Since her nomination, Yong has faced criticism over her plan to serve simultaneously as a proportional representation lawmaker and a cabinet minister, as well as allegations that she has turned the Basic Income Party into her personal political vehicle.

At a National Assembly press conference on Thursday, Yong said she would "fulfill her role both in government and in the Assembly." She also claimed that "since the nomination, groundless allegations have been reported as if they were real, and no matter how much the party has explained and rebutted them, the rebuttals have not been properly covered."


dandy@heraldcorp.com