Police on the 10th began questioning the complainant over allegations that Yong Hye-in, a nominee for Minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family from the Basic Income Party, violated the Political Funds Act.
Lee Jong-bae, a former Seoul city council member who filed the complaint accusing nominee Yong of violating the Political Funds Act, appeared at the Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul at about 1:55 p.m. that day.
Earlier, the former city council member filed a complaint arguing that after nominee Yong appointed a spouse as a paid party official of the Basic Income Party, 293.6 million won of political funds were paid to the party as special party dues, and part of that was paid back as the spouse's salary, which could be seen as a form of indirect attribution.
In a statement that day, the former city council member said it was a "grave case involving taxpayers' money," adding, "the only thing nominee Yong can do to win applause from the public is to resign from both the Minister nominee post and the National Assembly seat."
Nominee Yong held a news conference that day and refuted the allegations. Yong said, "My spouse worked for the party for 6 years and 2 months from June 2020 to August 2026, and excluding about 12 months of parental leave, the average monthly salary was 2.5 million won," adding, "a National Assembly intern secretary's monthly pay is roughly 2.5 million won as of 2026."
Yong went on to say, "My income alone is sufficient to support my family's livelihood," adding, "there is no reason to pay party dues just to pay my spouse a salary of about 2.5 million won a month." Yong added, "when a worker signs an employment contract and works, paying the corresponding salary is
the spirit of the Constitution and a principle of capitalism, isn't it?"
The police investigation is expected to continue. On the 11th, police plan to summon an official from the People's Livelihood Measures Committee, a civic group, as a complainant for questioning. The group filed a complaint accusing nominee Yong of abuse of authority and violating the Public Official Election Act for allegedly using an airport VIP lounge, which can be used only while performing official duties, during a past family trip, and for posting on social media (SNS) a photo taken while wearing clothing bearing the party name ahead of the June 3 local elections.