Minister nominee Yong Hye-in of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is said to be holding a press conference at 11:30 a.m. on the 13th at the National Assembly. The press conference was announced abruptly as analysis emerged that the Blue House, the Democratic Party of Korea, and the government would discuss Yong's future at a high-level party-government meeting at 4 p.m. Attention is on whether Yong will address whether to resign at the press conference.
Yong's side did not say what message would be delivered at the press conference. Within the Democratic Party, sentiment has reportedly spread that it would be desirable for Yong to step down voluntarily. That is because various favoritism controversies surrounding Yong are said to be affecting support for the Lee Jae-myung administration.
Unlike incumbent Minister Won Min-kyong, Yong has faced criticism for lacking clear achievements related to the women's movement. Yong was also nominated as Minister after serving as No. 2 on the proportional representation list through the Democratic Party's satellite party. Further controversy erupted when, after being appointed Minister, Yong said the proportional representation seat would not be relinquished. Critics say this may be intended to maintain the party's annual 1.1 billion won in government subsidies.
In addition, Yong's husband, Park Ki-hong, held key posts such as secretary general and Deputy Minister for Planning and Coordination from the early days of the Basic Income Party's founding and received a total of 123.66 million won in salary from the party over five years, and later was elected to the supreme council, drawing criticism that they were running a "family income party."
Amid these suspicions, Yong also called an emergency press conference on the 10th, but said there was no intention to resign.
Meanwhile, Jeong Jeom-sik, floor leader of the People Power Party, wrote on Facebook that "will the Democratic Party of Korea, which nominated Rep. Yong Hye-in No. 2 twice, be able to fix things now by cutting ties?" He added, "No one in our country ever voted for the Basic Income Party, but the Basic Income Party entered the Assembly two times in a row." He went on, "The outrageous favoritism and unfairness that Rep. Yong Hye-in enjoyed were provided by the Democratic Party of Korea."