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| Rep. Yong Hye-in of the minor opposition Basic Income Party, who gave birth to her son in early May, answers questions from reporters while holding her baby, during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday, her first day of returning to work after the birth of her son. Courtesy of Rep. Yong Hye-in’s office |
By Jung Da-min
Rep. Yong Hye-in of the minor opposition Basic Income Party, who gave birth to her son in early May, has come back at work at the National Assembly ― with her newborn baby.
Yong became the third lawmaker to give birth during her term at the National Assembly, following former lawmakers Jang Ha-na at the 19th Assembly and Shin Bo-ra at the 20th Assembly.
But despite these three cases, the current 21st Assembly still does not have any appropriate legal system to support lawmaker mothers, such as maternity leave, and working mothers need to submit a separate leave request to the Assembly speaker for every plenary session they may miss during their leave for childbirth. In addition, only lawmakers, Cabinet members and people necessary for examining bills can access the plenary chamber and other meeting rooms at the Assembly, meaning lawmaker mothers cannot bring their babies into these places.
Holding a press conference at the Assembly on Monday, her first day back at work after giving birth, Yong said, “As a mother of a 59-day-old baby, I support all women who are pregnant, give birth and are raising children. I have been and am still going through the difficulties of pregnancy, childbirth and childcare, but I will solve them through legislative activities, together with the public.”
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| Rep. Yong Hye-in of the minor opposition Basic Income Party, who gave birth to her son in early May, passes by the plenary chamber at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday, her first day back at work after giving birth. Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-han |
On May 17, Yong proposed a bill to allow mothers to bring their children under 24 months old into plenary sessions. A day later, Rep. Lee Soo-jin of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea proposed another bill to allow lawmakers to take parental leave for childbirth and childcare.
“Attending plenary sessions with children is a global trend,” Yong said during her meeting with Deputy Speaker Kim Sang-hee to discuss her proposed bill. “I hope this bill would help guarantee reproductive rights such as pregnancy and childbirth of lawmakers, their aides and staff, not only at the National Assembly but also in local councils.”
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| Rep. Yong Hye-in of the minor opposition Basic Income Party, right, who gave birth to her son in early May, talks with National Assembly Deputy Speaker Kim Sang-hee, who is holding Yong’s baby, at Kim’s office at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of Rep. Yong Hye-in’s office |
Lawmaker returns to National Assembly with baby
Source: Buhay Kapa PH
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