South Korean gender minister nominee withdraws amid seat-retention controversy

South Korean President Lee's nominee for gender minister has withdrawn her candidacy following fierce public criticism over her refusal to resign her parliamentary seat, dealing a fresh blow to a cabinet overhaul already blamed for dragging down the administration's approval ratings.

Yong Hye-in, a lawmaker from the minor Basic Income Party, pulled out of consideration on Sunday after the ruling Democratic Party pressured her to make a choice between the ministerial post and her seat in the National Assembly. The controversy centered on her insistence that she would retain her parliamentary position while serving in the cabinet, breaking with the convention that lawmakers elected through proportional representation vacate their seats when joining the government.

Ruling party pressure forces decision

Yong told reporters that the Democratic Party had urged her to decide, invoking the custom governing proportional-representation lawmakers who accept cabinet appointments. "A cabinet minister is expected to serve as a bridge between the government and the National Assembly and help foster cooperation. However, I concluded that it would be difficult to effectively fulfil that role when even the ruling party has expressed concerns," she said.

Reshuffle backfires on embattled president

The withdrawal marks the latest setback for President Lee, who announced a hasty cabinet reshuffle two weeks ago in an attempt to revitalise his administration and halt a decline in public support. Instead, the reshuffle appears to have accelerated his political troubles: Lee's approval rating fell to a new low of 38 per cent, according to a Gallup Korea survey released on Friday. Among those who disapproved of Lee's performance, 24 per cent cited housing while another 16 per cent pointed to the reshuffle itself.

Public opposition to Yong's nomination was overwhelming, with the poll showing 61 per cent of respondents viewed her as unqualified for the position, while just 13 per cent supported her appointment.

Source: South China Morning Post