Yu Si-min's past praise for minister nominee Yong Hye-in resurfaces amid controversy

As controversy swirls around Yong Hye-in, nominee for minister of gender equality and family, over her decision to retain her proportional representation seat in the National Assembly and her spouse's work as a party official, past remarks by author Yu Si-min praising Yong are drawing renewed attention.

In 2022, Yu appeared on a TBS broadcast and said, "Among young politicians, the lawmaker I like most is Yong Hye-in."

He explained his reasoning, saying, "There are things I agree with her on and things I don't, but whenever she makes an argument, she presents all the grounds for why she is making it — whether statistics, logical reasoning or theory."

"This is someone who knows how to make an argument. That's what I really liked," he said, adding, "If you're going to do politics, this is how it should be done."

Yu's praise continued into 2023. At a lecture on the theme of "Is our democracy all right as it is?", he mentioned Yong and said she "should continue to be in the National Assembly."

He added that "the best thing about Rep. Yong is that she doesn't play the 'I'm a young politician' card — what does being young have to do with anything?" comparing it to someone who boasts about their age.

"When older people act in ways worthy of respect, you look up to them," he said. "Rep. Yong does politics in a genuinely youthful way, and I really admire that. She is far more impressive than I was when I first entered politics."

He also said, "No matter how unreasonable or infuriating the other side's words are, she calmly says what she needs to say without getting emotionally worked up — watching that, I thought she was more impressive than I was at 45."

"The only regret is that her party is small, so she cannot grow as much as she could," he said. "I sometimes wish she were doing this in a bigger party. She is a politician with far superior qualities, abilities and heart than the young politicians of the Democratic Party of Korea."

Meanwhile, Yong faces calls from some within the ruling camp and women's advocacy groups to withdraw her nomination, over her plan to keep her proportional representation seat and her spouse's role as an official of the Basic Income Party.

Arriving at her confirmation hearing preparation office at the Korea Youth Activity Promotion Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on Wednesday, Yong addressed the controversy, saying, "I am well aware that many people have concerns and worries. I will prepare thoroughly for the confirmation hearing."