Ahn blasts Yong's dual-post decision as 'daylight drunken brawl'

Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo of the People Power Party on Thursday criticized a press conference held by Yong Hye-in, the nominee to head the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, saying it was "like a drunken brawl staged in broad daylight at the National Assembly."

Ahn made the remark on Facebook that day, sharing the contents of Yong's press conference and writing, "I hope President Lee Jae Myung collects the explosives as soon as possible."

Yong, addressing criticism over holding both her proportional representation Assembly seat and a ministerial post, said that day, "The law allows lawmakers to serve concurrently as Cabinet members." She added, "Naming a sitting opposition lawmaker as a minister is the first case since the DJP alliance between Kim Dae-jung and Kim Jong-pil during the Kim Dae-jung administration, so it is hard to judge it against precedent."

"We need to read the intent behind naming a sitting opposition lawmaker as part of the coalition," she said. "It is regrettable that before I could confirm this meaning and explain it to the public in detail, the Democratic Party spokesperson's public position was already posted, and the narrative hardened into a preset frame."

She then said, "The principle of representation applies equally to constituency lawmakers," adding, "We should instead reflect on whether the custom of proportional representatives resigning has actually become a way for politicians to divvy up seats among themselves."

She went on to say, "If the argument is that we need legislative discussion on the side effects of lawmakers holding concurrent Cabinet posts as a matter of principle, I agree that such discussion is necessary." She stressed, "But I cannot agree with applying a different standard only to proportional representation lawmakers."

Yong said, "The Basic Income Party is small but has grown into a strong party," adding, "As a small parliamentary party with just one seat, I have tried to engage in politics responsibly, offering alternatives through a voice that could remain firm, however modest."

On why she accepted the ministerial post, Yong explained, "If my personal advancement mattered more than the decision of the appointing authority, who asked me to work for the country and its people, I would not have accepted the post." She added, "I heard many suggestions this time that I should take the ministerial post instead of my Assembly seat and join a larger party. But I believe achieving dignity for everyone matters more than personal advancement, and I accepted the nomination for the sake of a gender-equal society."