Seoul: Yong Hye-in, a lawmaker from the Basic Income Party and nominee for the minister of gender equality and family, announced her intention to retain both her National Assembly seat and Cabinet post if confirmed, sparking intense debate over the principles of proportional representation and political fairness.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Yong defended her decision by arguing that the law permits lawmakers to serve concurrently as Cabinet ministers. However, she challenged the established convention requiring proportional representation lawmakers to resign their parliamentary seats upon joining the Cabinet. Yong suggested that this practice leads to politicians dividing positions among themselves, a claim that critics argue distorts the foundational principles of representative democracy and the purpose of proportional representation.
The distinction between constituency and proportional representation lawmakers is central to this debate. Constituency lawmakers are directly elected by local voters based on individual merit and pledges, leading to a loss of representation if they resign for a ministerial post, necessitating a by-election. Conversely, proportional representation seats are allocated based on the party's share of votes, with the party's policies and candidate list in mind. If such a lawmaker resigns, the next candidate on the party list takes over, avoiding any vacancy.
Yong's insistence on retaining her seat is seen by some as a strategic move to ensure the Basic Income Party remains represented in the National Assembly. If she relinquishes her seat, it would likely be filled by a member of the Democratic Party (DP), altering the parliamentary balance.
Additionally, Yong's portrayal of her nomination as an instance of bipartisan cooperation has been questioned. She was not elected as an opposition candidate but secured her position through a political maneuver involving the Democratic Alliance of Korea, a satellite of the DP. This maneuver allowed her to return to the Basic Income Party and maintain its representation and state subsidies.
Yong's past election strategies, which mirror this pattern, raise questions about her political integrity and the fairness of her nomination. Critics, including those within the ruling camp, argue that she should relinquish her parliamentary seat and even question the legitimacy of her nomination.
In an era where political fairness is highly valued, Yong is being urged to address concerns over her political tactics and whether she is a suitable choice for a Cabinet position, rather than relying solely on legal technicalities to justify holding dual roles.