Seoul: Yong Hye-in, a two-term lawmaker known for her advocacy of universal basic income, has been nominated as the head of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. As the floor leader of the Basic Income Party, the 36-year-old has consistently championed the rights of social minorities and laborers.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Yong has been a prominent advocate for basic income, a stance that aligns with her friendly rapport with President Lee Jae Myung, who shares her belief in the necessity of such economic policies. Born in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province in 1990, Yong was inspired to enter politics after witnessing the Sewol ferry disaster and the subsequent hunger strikes by victims' families. This tragic incident, one of South Korea's deadliest maritime disasters, claimed over 300 lives in 2014.

During her university years, Yong organized a "rally of silence" to honor the Sewol victims and criticize the government's inadequate rescue efforts. The rally resulted in her indictment for violating related laws, culminating in a fine of 1 million won (approximately US$724). Her political journey continued with the founding of the Basic Income Party in 2020, which aims to provide every citizen with a universal basic income of 600,000 won monthly. That same year, Yong was elected to the 21st National Assembly as a proportional representative.

Yong's recent nomination marks a significant milestone, as she becomes the first minister from the 1990s generation in Lee's administration. Her role in co-chairing the central campaign committee during the recent presidential election was instrumental in securing President Lee's victory, further solidifying her influence in South Korean politics.