Nominee becomes liability

President Lee Jae Myung's selection of Rep. Yong Hye-in from his minor Basic Income Party as gender equality minister has created a political crisis. Recent Gallup poll data, published on Friday, revealed that Lee's approval rating has dropped to a record low of 38 percent, a two-point decrease from the previous week. The agency attributed this decline to Lee's unpopular housing policy (24 percent) and personnel decisions (16 percent) as the main reasons for the drop in support.

Yong Hye-in's presence in this situation only serves to further tarnish Lee's approval ratings. Critics argue that her refusal to resign from her parliamentary position, even after her nomination to the Cabinet, violates the convention that lawmakers appointed to Cabinet roles must relinquish their seats. Moreover, Hye-in is facing significant criticism for running her minor party more like a family business than a political organization.

Her behavior during a press conference on Thursday was particularly contentious; she appeared impatient and repeatedly interrupted a journalist questioning her qualifications for the Cabinet role.