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Yong Hye-in, nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, holds a press conference at the National Assembly press center on the 13th to announce the voluntary withdrawal of her nomination. / Yonhap

Yong Hye-in, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, voluntarily withdrew her nomination on the 13th. The move comes two weeks after she was nominated as a member of the State Council in the Lee Jae-myung administration on the 30th of last month.

Holding a press conference at the National Assembly that day, Yong stated, "Along with my determination as nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family in the Lee Jae-myung administration to create a gender-equal society for all, I step down from the ministerial nomination as of today."

Citing the background of her resignation, Yong pointed to calls from the Democratic Party of Korea leadership urging her to make a decision. "I was informed by the Democratic Party that while it respects the circumstances facing myself and the Basic Income Party, it requested that I make a decision considering the lack of broad public consensus regarding concurrently serving as a proportional representation lawmaker and a cabinet minister," she said.

She continued, "A cabinet member is tasked with organically connecting the National Assembly and the government and eliciting cooperation. I determined that performing that role would be practically difficult when even the ruling party expresses concern." She added, "I also deemed that stepping aside here is necessary to maintain the spirit of solidarity among the Democratic Party, the Basic Income Party, and the broader democratic and progressive bloc."

Turning to the People Power Party, she criticized its stance toward the confirmation hearing. "Over the past two weeks, malicious, distorted reporting and actions by People Power Party lawmakers continued, mocking the circumstances of a minority party while abandoning nominee vetting," she noted. "Having nothing to hide, I wished to explain each matter before the public, but the People Power Party persistently refused to set a schedule for the hearing."

Yong then expressed, "I am grateful to the President for his trust in entrusting me with a major task, and I am deeply sorry for failing to carry out the mission," adding, "I will return to my original resolve and dedicate myself to legislative activities with a humble and mature attitude."

Immediately after the press conference, Basic Income Party spokesperson Shin Ji-hye met with reporters and stated that Democratic Party leadership met with Yong in person on the 12th to request her resignation. "We received the feedback from the Democratic Party leadership yesterday, and following discussions within the party upon Yong's request to consult party leadership, the decision was made," Shin said, noting she understood there was no separate communication with the presidential office (Cheong Wa Dae) during the resignation process.

                                                                                                              Shim Jun-bo