{
  "id": 7247000,
  "title": "South Korean president’s cabinet reshuffle hits new snag as gender minister nominee quits",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/south-korean-presidents-cabinet-reshuffle-hits-new-snag-as-gender",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-14T04:33:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3367394/south-korean-presidents-cabinet-reshuffle-hits-new-snag-gender-minister-nominee-quits"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's cabinet reshuffle has hit another snag with the resignation of the 36-year-old gender minister nominee, Yong Hye-in, before her confirmation. The decision came after controversy over her stance on giving up her parliamentary seat while serving in the cabinet. Yong argued that the ruling Democratic Party had pressured her to make a decision, citing the custom that lawmakers from proportional representation must vacate their seats when taking a cabinet post. She expressed difficulty in effectively fulfilling her role as a cabinet minister due to the ruling party's concerns. This withdrawal adds to the recent setbacks for Lee following a sudden cabinet reshuffle two weeks ago, which aimed to boost his administration's standing and halt a decline in public support. Lee's approval rating dropped to a record low of 38%, with a significant portion of disapprovers citing housing issues and the reshuffle itself. Sixty-one percent of respondents deemed Yong unqualified for the position, while 13% backed her. Yong retained her parliamentary seat, arguing she was her party's only lawmaker. She criticized the opposition for mocking the challenges faced by a minor party and media outlets for publishing \"malicious and distorted\" reports. The presidential office respected Yong's decision, stating they believe the nominee minimized state affairs and people's livelihoods burdens. The surprise nomination was seen as an attempt by Lee to win back approval from younger voters, a demographic increasingly distancing itself from the liberal president.",
  "summary": "South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s 36-year-old gender minister nominee stepped down before gaining confirmation of her position amid a public backlash over her suitability for the job in the latest negative fallout from the president’s cabinet reshuffle. Yong Hye-in, a lawmaker of the minor Basic Income Party, pulled out of consideration for the position on Sunday after controversy erupted…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Vibes",
        "title": "South Korean student suicides hit record high, up 65% since 2020",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/south-korean-student-suicides-hit-record-high-up-65-since-2020",
        "published": "2026-09-14T05:56:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}