“Hey” to Kang Sun-young, “Hey?” to Yong Hye-in... They Meet in a Confirmation Hearing After Their Disciplinary Roles Are Reversed

[Financial News] Yong Hye-in, a Basic Income Party lawmaker nominated as Minister of Gender Equality and Family, will have her qualifications reviewed by People Power Party lawmakers against whom she previously filed disciplinary motions.

According to the National Assembly Bill Information System on the 7th, Yong Hye-in separately filed disciplinary motions against People Power Party lawmakers Kang Sun-young and Lim Jong-deuk on February 7 last year. Of the 29 disciplinary motions filed against lawmakers in the National Assembly at the time, Yong’s was the only one submitted by a single lawmaker.
The motion against Kang stemmed from a verbal clash during a hearing held by the “December 3 Insurrection Allegations Special Committee for a Parliamentary Investigation.”
At the third hearing, held on February 6 last year, Yong criticized former Capital Defense Commander Lee Jin-woo, saying, “You ended up being arrested on insurrection charges because, despite being the commander of the Capital Defense Command, you spoke without having any thoughts of your own.”
Kang, a former Army general, responded, “How dare you say ‘the commander of the Capital Defense Command.’ Watch what you say.” Yong countered, “The People Power Party floor leader said this morning that we should not interrupt other lawmakers’ questions. Look at your own conduct.” Kang then shouted, “Hey,” and Yong immediately shot back, “Hey?”
Yong also clashed with Lim at the second hearing, held on the 4th of the same month. When Yong criticized a question from People Power Party lawmaker Kwak Kyu-taek as “not appropriate for a parliamentary investigation,” Lim retorted, “Have you lost your mind?”
Yong responded that it was “something one should not say to another person, regardless of the parliamentary investigation” and demanded an apology. Lim refused, prompting then-committee chair Ahn Gyu-back to order him to leave.

Yong later submitted the disciplinary motions, arguing that the two lawmakers had violated their duty to maintain the dignity of National Assembly members and insulted fellow lawmakers. However, the roles have now been reversed at her confirmation hearing. Kang and Lim, who were the subjects of the disciplinary motions, are now members of the standing committee and will directly scrutinize the nominee they once faced.
Yong’s past remarks during a parliamentary audit are also being revisited. During the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family’s parliamentary audit in October 2022, Yong asked then-Minister Kim Hyun-sook, “The government’s organizational reform bill must pass the National Assembly to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. If it does not pass, will you resign?” When Kim replied, “I am doing my best,” Yong criticized her, saying, “I find it truly pitiful to see you clinging to your position.”
Meanwhile, Yong arrived at her confirmation hearing preparation office on the morning of the 7th. When reporters asked whether she would hold her parliamentary seat concurrently and whether she intended to complete the hearing process, she declined to elaborate, saying, “I’ll address that at the confirmation hearing.”
[email protected] Ahn Ga-eul Reporter