Yong Hye-in's dual role would cost taxpayers W4.3b, PPP lawmaker says

If Yong Hye-in, the Basic Income Party lawmaker nominated as minister of gender equality and family, retains her Assembly seat while serving as minister, taxpayers would foot a bill of around 4.3 billion won ($3.14 million), according to a new estimate.

People Power Party lawmaker Kim So-hee of the National Assembly's gender equality and family committee said Wednesday that data obtained from the National Assembly Secretariat and the National Election Commission showed that public funds flowing to the Basic Income Party would reach approximately 4.3 billion won over the 21-month remainder of Yong's term if she holds both positions simultaneously.

The breakdown includes roughly 1.1 billion won from the Assembly budget — covering annual staff payroll for Yong's office of 559.99 million won and office operating costs of 97.14 million won — along with 1.94 billion won in regular party subsidies and an estimated 1 billion won or more in election subsidies for the 2028 general election.

Yong had earlier signaled her intention to keep her Assembly seat after taking the ministerial post, saying that her resignation would force the Basic Income Party to become an extra-parliamentary party, as she is its only sitting lawmaker.

According to Kim's office, the annual ministerial salary this year is 154.93 million won. Under current rules, a lawmaker serving concurrently as a cabinet minister receives only the higher of the two salaries, so there is no double-dipping on pay. Even so, staff wages, office running costs and utility bills for Yong's Assembly office would continue to be drawn from the Assembly budget throughout her ministerial tenure.

Former Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Kim Hyun-mi offers a precedent: during her period of dual service, she collected 108.4 million won in lawmaker activity support funds — including 20.4 million won in publicity expenses and 18 million won in meal allowances for staff — without sponsoring legislation or participating in national audits.

The Basic Income Party received 9.85 million won in regular subsidies in the second quarter of this year, amounting to 0.07 percent of the total 13.4 billion won distributed. In the third quarter, it received 277.1 million won. The increase stems from the party's performance in the June 3 local elections, where it cleared the 0.5 percent threshold required under Article 27 of the Political Funds Act to qualify for the "2 percent distribution" formula.

That provision applies only to parties holding Assembly seats. Should Yong resign and the Basic Income Party lose its parliamentary status, it would immediately forfeit eligibility — forgoing the remaining 1.94 billion won in regular subsidies and an estimated 1 billion won in 2028 general election subsidies.

Kim criticized Yong, saying she is "only in her 30s in age, but the way she learned politics and how she conducts herself make her a perfect replica of the old-guard activist generation — a 'neo-386.'" Kim added that Yong has "enjoyed every privilege there is."

Kim called on Yong to "first give up the nearly 4.3 billion won in taxpayer-funded vested interests" and said "the hypocritical, privilege-driven politics that survives on public money must now come to an end."