![Yong Hye-in, nominee for minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, answers reporters' questions as she arrives at her confirmation hearing preparation office at the Korea Youth Activity Promotion Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on Wednesday. [Photo by Lim Se-jun]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/09/02/news-p.v1.20260902.4480aa0ca81f4754ac4b9240d4c7db5d_P1.jpg)
A civic group has filed a police complaint against Yong Hye-in, a Basic Income Party lawmaker nominated as minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, alleging she used a VIP airport lounge with her family on a personal trip.
The conservative civic group Seommin Minseong Daechaek Wiwonhoe, a citizens' committee for public welfare, filed the complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on Wednesday, accusing Yong of abuse of authority and violations of the Public Official Election Act.
The group alleged that Yong used the VIP lounge at Gimpo Airport with her family in March 2023 before departing on a trip to Jeju Island.
The group said Korea Airports Corporation regulations allow use of VIP lounges only while conducting official duties, and that even then, a lawmaker's parents are not among eligible accompanying guests — making the alleged use an abuse of authority.
The group also took issue with a video Yong posted on social media in May, ahead of the June 3 local elections, showing her standing in front of the campaign office of Basic Income Party candidate Park Eun-young in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, while wearing clothing printed with the party's name. "Under the Public Official Election Act, everyone except the candidate themselves is prohibited from wearing clothing bearing a party name from 120 days before election day through election day," the group said in explaining its complaint.
choigo@heraldcorp.com
