Kim Jae-seop Introduces 'Public Office Ambition Prevention Act' Targeting Yong Hye-in: "Proportional-Representation Lawmakers Must Resign Upon Ministerial Appointment"

[Financial News] A bill informally dubbed the 'Public Office Ambition Prevention Act' has been introduced to prevent proportional-representation lawmakers from simultaneously serving as prime minister or cabinet ministers. The bill would establish a rule requiring proportional-representation lawmakers to resign if they take positions such as prime minister or minister. It targets Basic Income Party lawmaker Yong Hye-in, who was nominated as a candidate for minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family but declared that she would not give up her proportional-representation seat.
Kim Jae-seop, a People Power Party lawmaker, said on the 4th that he had introduced an amendment to the National Assembly Act as its lead sponsor.
Under the current law, lawmakers may simultaneously serve as prime minister or cabinet ministers. Constituency lawmakers have held such positions while retaining their seats, but proportional-representation lawmakers have traditionally resigned. If a constituency lawmaker resigns, a by-election must be held. In contrast, if a proportional-representation lawmaker resigns, the next candidate on the party's list can succeed to the seat.
However, Yong Hye-in, who was recently nominated as a candidate for minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, has made clear that she intends to retain her parliamentary seat. As the Basic Income Party's only lawmaker, she argues that resigning would leave the party without representation in the National Assembly, a situation that should be avoided.
Kim Jae-seop therefore plans to revise the National Assembly Act to prevent a similar case involving Yong Hye-in from recurring. Under the proposal, a proportional-representation lawmaker would automatically lose their seat upon becoming prime minister or a cabinet minister.
Kim Jae-seop said, "Even if a proportional-representation lawmaker gives up their seat, the next candidate can succeed to it, so it is difficult for the public to understand why they would insist on holding both a parliamentary seat and a ministerial post," adding, "Yong Hye-in's greed in refusing to give up either position has exposed the loopholes in the current dual-office system."
He continued, "If you want to become a minister, common sense dictates that you should give up your parliamentary seat. Through this amendment, I will correct the dual-office system, which has become an unnecessary and unfair privilege available only to proportional-representation lawmakers."

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