Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung's pick to lead the gender equality ministry withdrew from consideration Sunday amid growing criticism over a string of controversies, including her plan to retain her proportional representation parliamentary seat. Rep. Yong Hye-in, the sole lawmaker of the minor Basic Income Party, announced her withdrawal during a news conference at the National Assembly, 14 days after being nominated to the Cabinet post.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Yong stated, "I am withdrawing from consideration as gender equality minister today, putting aside the resolve I had as a nominee to help build a gender-equal society for all." Yong had faced pressure from both the opposition and some ruling bloc lawmakers to step down after she made clear her intention to keep her proportional representation seat in the National Assembly even if appointed to the Cabinet post.
Under current law, lawmakers can serve concurrently as Cabinet members, although proportional representatives have traditionally relinquished their parliamentary seats to join the Cabinet. Yong argued that resigning as a lawmaker would leave the Basic Income Party without parliamentary representation, which was her reason for seeking to retain both positions.
Yong mentioned she had been requested by the Democratic Party to make a decision on her nomination, indicating that the ruling party was withdrawing political support for her. This comes amid falling approval ratings for President Lee, particularly among people in their 20s and 30s in recent weeks.
A recent Gallup Korea poll revealed that 38 percent of respondents gave a positive assessment of Lee's job performance, marking the lowest since he took office in June last year. The poll, conducted with 1,000 people aged 18 and older from Tuesday through Thursday, showed that 61 percent viewed Yong's nomination as gender equality minister negatively.
Yong also faced criticism over allegations of nepotism involving her husband and alleged ties to an underground left-leaning political group.