gender minister nominee-withdrawal

▲ Gender Minister nominee Yong Hye-in announces her withdrawal during a news conference at the National Assembly on Sept. 13, 2026. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Sept. 13 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung's pick to lead the gender equality ministry withdrew from consideration Sunday amid growing criticism over her plan to retain her proportional representation parliamentary seat.

Rep. Yong Hye-in, the sole lawmaker of the minor Basic Income Party, announced her withdrawal during a news conference at the National Assembly, 14 days after being nominated to the Cabinet post.

She had been under pressure from both the opposition and some ruling bloc lawmakers to withdraw from consideration.

Under current law, lawmakers can serve concurrently as Cabinet members, though proportional representatives have customarily given up their parliamentary seats to join the Cabinet, with the seats going to the next candidates in line on their party lists.

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