{"id":2204382,"date":"2024-03-22T19:03:51","date_gmt":"2024-03-22T10:03:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2204382"},"modified":"2024-03-25T18:10:42","modified_gmt":"2024-03-25T09:10:42","slug":"how-yong-hye-in-made-her-name-pushing-progressive-causes-that-others-wont","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/03\/how-yong-hye-in-made-her-name-pushing-progressive-causes-that-others-wont\/","title":{"rendered":"How Yong Hye-in made her name pushing progressive causes that others won\u2019t"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yong Hye-in, 33, has emerged as a prominent figure among South Korea\u2019s next-generation politicians, distinguishing herself as one of the youngest female lawmakers in the 21st National Assembly.<\/p>\n

While the founder of the minor Basic Income Party, Yong has strategically run as a member of the main opposition party to stay in office, while setting herself apart from more established politicians with parliamentary speeches that frequently go viral and through her support for progressive bills.<\/p>\n

Her legislative priorities have included the Basic Income Law and the Life Partner Law, the latter of which aims to recognize non-blood and non-marital relationships as legal families.<\/p>\n

She stands out as one of the few prominent politicians who advocate for progressive policies that the Democratic Party (DP) has traditionally hesitated to pursue. These include the proposed anti-discrimination law protecting sexual minorities and other marginalized groups.<\/p>\n

Recently married, Yong became just the third female National Assembly member to give birth during her term, and she has made a point of advocating for family inclusivity and arguing against \u201cno kids zones\u201d by attending parliamentary sessions with her baby.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Yong as a college student leading a protest urging the ROK government for a thorough investigation into the Sewol Ferry sinking in 2014 | Image: Basic Income Party<\/p><\/div>\n

FROM ACTIVIST TO LAWMAKER<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yong first appeared in political headlines following the Sewol ferry disaster. As a student president at the time, she founded a part-time workers\u2019 union before entering politics as a proportional representative and eventually becoming a party leader.<\/p>\n

Yong spent her youth in Ansan, where many of the Sewol ferry victims from Danwon High School were from, and she personally knew several of the victims.<\/p>\n

While attending Kyung Hee University, she initiated the \u201cstay put\u201d (\uac00\ub9cc\ud788 \uc788\uc73c\ub77c) silent march movement to commemorate the Sewol disaster and urge for a thorough investigation.<\/p>\n

\u201cStay put\u201d refers to the announcement that the now-jailed Sewol ferry captain made, telling the passengers to remain where they were as the ship sank, which came to symbolize the disempowerment felt by ROK citizens under irresponsible state governance.<\/p>\n

The Sewol disaster motivated Yong to pursue a political career. She joined the Progressive Justice Party in 2016 at the age of 26 and ran for a seat as a Labor Party proportional representative but was unsuccessful due to the party\u2019s low vote share.<\/p>\n

In 2019, Yong ran for the leadership of the Labor Party, emphasizing policies on basic income and feminism, the latter being a relatively new issue in Korea following the #MeToo movement. She was elected as the party leader alongside a team of individuals in their 20s and 30s, a rare occurrence in Korean politics.<\/p>\n

However, she left the party when her attempt to change the Labor Party\u2019s name to the Basic Income Party to reflect her priority on economic equity failed.<\/p>\n

In Jan. 2020, Yong founded the Basic Income Party and became its leader, advocating for a core policy of providing a monthly basic income of about $450 (600,000 won) to all ROK citizens.<\/p>\n

Yong ran as a proportional candidate for a satellite party that the DP founded and began to serve as a lawmaker in 2020.<\/p>\n

At the time, she temporarily left her party, stating, \u201cIt was not an easy decision, but I resolved to produce lawmakers who will dedicate themselves to realizing basic income.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yong was placed fifth on the proportional representation list and won a seat in the parliament, after which she immediately left the satellite party to return the Basic Income Party. She will likely employ this strategy of linking herself to the DP in the upcoming election to improve her chances of winning a seat.<\/p>\n

Partly due to her relatively short political career, Yong has faced little controversy or criticism, apart from the intense hatred from young male voters who view her as a radical feminist.<\/p>\n

The few controversies she has faced include offering an apology after conservative media outlets reported her family\u2019s use of an airport VIP lounge and suspicions of favoritism regarding her placement in winning positions in the 2020 and 2024 elections.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Yong visiting activists on a hunger strike urging the National Assembly’s two major parties to pass the Anti-Discrimination Law | Image: Basic Income Party (April 2022)<\/p><\/div>\n

PROGRESSIVE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA<\/strong><\/p>\n

Over the past four years, Yong has received several awards in the 21st National Assembly, including recognition by 100 parliamentary journalists as the best legislator in national audits and commendation for her communication skills.<\/p>\n

Many of the bills Yong has introduced have attracted significant attention, offering a stark contrast to the DP\u2019s increasingly conservative stance.<\/p>\n

With the Life Partner Law, she became the first lawmaker to introduce legislation that gives cohabitating partners similar rights and responsibilities to married couple. These include cohabitation and support obligations, the right to make daily household decisions, shared debt responsibility and joint adoption rights.<\/p>\n

\u201cElderly families, friend families and non-married cohabiting partners are all common new family forms among our neighbors. It\u2019s time for the state to protect and support every family formed through intimacy and caregiving,\u201d she said when proposing the bill.<\/p>\n

Yong advocates for recognizing diverse family forms to address Korea\u2019s low birth rates, citing countries with higher fertility rates like Germany, Denmark and Sweden that support non-traditional family structures and childbirth.<\/p>\n

Yong\u2019s other bills and parliamentary activities address economic and social issues. In Sept. 2022, she proposed a bill for a temporary excess profits tax on oil companies and banks to reclaim profits from rising energy prices and interest rate differentials. Despite high public interest, the bill did not pass due to opposition from the government and the ruling People Power Party.<\/p>\n

Following the Oct. 2022 Itaewon crowd crush incident, Yong criticized the government\u2019s response and won praise for her work on the Itaewon Disaster Investigation Committee, where she revealed failures in the Seoul Metropolitan Government\u2019s response.<\/p>\n

Yong\u2019s commitment to introducing basic income to the country contrasts with the DP\u2019s reluctance and aligns with progressive movements globally. Her efforts included hosting the Basic Income Earth Network conference in South Korea, demonstrating the growing influence of this policy.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Yong with other party members attending the 2022 Pride Parade in Seoul | Image: Basic Income Party (July 2022)<\/p><\/div>\n

WHY SHE MATTERS NOW<\/strong><\/p>\n

Established politicians from across the political spectrum have positively evaluated Yong\u2019s work, despite her sometimes strong criticism of both major parties.<\/p>\n

Middle-aged and older politicians, who typically view younger politicians as expendable assets for their own goals, have praised Yong\u2019s leadership and legislative prowess, and influential figures from the DP, including Lee Jae-myung and Park Jie-won, have shown support for Yong despite her affiliation with a different party.<\/p>\n

Yong\u2019s rise to prominence stems in part from her assertive approach in live-streamed hearings, like when she challenged Yoon\u2019s candidate for gender minister over her role in sensationalizing sexual assaults while working at a tabloid.<\/p>\n

Given her rising recognition, the DP is expected to further support Yong, solidifying her influence in the political arena.<\/p>\n

Yong\u2019s strategic move to join a DP-affiliated satellite party, securing a virtually guaranteed election slot, exemplifies her pragmatic approach to ensuring her presence in the National Assembly for another term.<\/p>\n

Although Yong will likely return to her minor party post-election, evidence suggests that her priorities lie more with policy than party identity.<\/p>\n

Yong is inclined to support policies that the DP struggles to push through in the next four years, such as the Anti-Discrimination Law and the Life Partner Law she introduced. She will likely make decisions that seem more strategic and will ensure her continued presence in the National Assembly.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Lawmaker Yong Hye-in with her son at a press conference against “no kids zones” | Image: ROK Basic Income Party (May 2023)<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

BIO: YONG HYE-IN (\uc6a9\ud61c\uc778, \u9f8d\u60e0\u4ec1)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Age:<\/strong> 33, born on April 12, 1990 in Bucheon City, Gyeonggi Province<\/p>\n

Family background:<\/strong> Married with one son, born 2021<\/p>\n

Education:<\/strong> B.A. in Political Science and International Relations at Kyung Hee University<\/p>\n

Career:<\/strong><\/p>\n