[Yeouido Interview] 'Iron Lady' Yang Geum-hee Who Entered Engineering Instead of Medical School

Yang Geum-hee, People Power Party Lawmaker
The Only Electronics Engineering Graduate in the 21st National Assembly
Playing a Key Role by Introducing Legislation under the Industry Committee's Jurisdiction

"Go to medical school or pharmacy school," said Yang Geum-hee, a member of the People Power Party from the class of 1980, who steadfastly insisted on studying electronic engineering despite her parents' objections during college entrance exams. Yang recalled, "I wasn't good at memorization and liked science and math subjects, so I thought engineering suited my aptitude," adding, "I read a lot during my school days and felt that the field of electronic engineering would lead future generations."

Yang's foresight proved accurate. As the only electronic engineering graduate in the 21st National Assembly, she served as the secretary of the party's Semiconductor Special Committee, contributing to supporting South Korea's economic security strategic technologies. In particular, while working in the National Assembly's Industry, Trade, Energy, Small and Medium Enterprises Committee, she led the passage of laws to foster the semiconductor industry, such as the 'National Advanced Strategic Industry Act' and the 'Corporate Digital Transformation Support Act.'

Her role as a spokesperson was also remarkable. Yang served as the party's floor spokesperson from April last year and recently as the chief spokesperson. She emphasized, "A spokesperson is not someone who just speaks but someone who listens," adding, "Although they represent the whole when speaking, they must first listen thoroughly and organize the content well to prevent errors."

The term 'Iron Lady,' mentioned by People Power Party leader Kim Ki-hyun at Yang's policy report meeting in February this year, reflects her relentless legislative activities. After graduating from university, Yang worked as a teacher for ten years but quit to focus on childcare. However, Yang stressed, "No time passes in vain." She said, "Politics is not done alone, but one must have the strength to overcome problems independently. Whether one can overcome difficult and challenging situations is important, and that time was when I was building inner strength."

Yang Geum-hee, Member of the People Power Party. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Below is a Q&A with Representative Yang.

Q. How was your experience as a spokesperson?

A. I tried to answer most calls from reporters and return their calls. I met with editors and various reporters, from team leaders to field reporters. As a spokesperson, I thought it was good for the People Power Party and for reporters to create an environment where everyone receives sincere answers. Since everything is a process of people meeting and achieving something, I believe trust between people is very important. I always thought I should answer sincerely.

Q. You have been dedicated to the Industry Committee throughout both the first and second halves of the National Assembly. What bills are you focusing on recently?

A. One is the Intelligent Robot Industry Act. This bill passed the subcommittee the day before, and in the future, delivery robots will be able to roam the streets. Investment and fostering of autonomous intelligent robots are expected to be activated. Also, I hope to achieve the passage of the Resource Security Act to protect resources such as rare metals and rare minerals developed overseas. The public hearing for the Resource Security Act, a newly enacted law, is scheduled for this month.

Q. I heard you are also paying close attention to bills related to the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.

A. Since the Ministry of SMEs and Startups is a relatively new ministry, there are hardly any good statistics. This means data are not properly managed. I proposed a bill to expand the integrated management system for SME support projects into a big data platform for SMEs. The bill establishes grounds to request more detailed tax and employment information from heads of related agencies and aims to support the growth and development of SMEs by enabling the Minister of SMEs and Startups to provide data and information to central administrative agencies, related organizations, and groups.

Q. You have also frequently introduced bills representing socially vulnerable groups.

A. The 'Act on the Protection of Children and Adolescents from Sexual Abuse (Child and Youth Protection Act)' was amended to allow the police to conduct undercover investigations with court approval when investigating digital sexual crimes against children and adolescents. Previously, undercover infiltration was not allowed except in drug investigations, but now it is possible. I also proposed the Protective Custody Act (known as the 'Jo Doo-soon Act'), which is currently pending. During the last presidential election, I served as the head of the women's headquarters and was able to play many roles. In the past, the youth and women's headquarters were part of the organizational headquarters, but this time the women's headquarters was independent, providing more opportunities to work.

Yang Geum-hee, Member of the People Power Party. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Q. Which passed bill do you remember most?

A. The 'National Advanced Strategic Industry Act' was created while I was the secretary of the People Power Party's Semiconductor Special Committee. It is a bill to foster strategic industries such as semiconductors. Another is the newly enacted 'Corporate Digital Transformation Support Act,' which includes principles on the use and protection of industrial data to resolve legal uncertainties in the process of utilizing industrial data.

Q. You joined the party as the first talent recruit. What was the driving force that led you to work?

A. Making laws does not require deep specialized knowledge of particular technologies. The most important thing when making laws is to set the direction and pace to determine how much the lives of our people can be enriched through the law. Since I majored in electronic engineering at university, I have a basic understanding of technology, so even if I don't know everything in depth, I think I can understand faster than anyone else what kind of society we can open in the future. It's not like teaching university lectures, so technical skills are not necessary. I need to grasp how the law can be integrated and contribute to society. Decisions must be made quickly at this point, and I need to understand that.

Yang Geum-hee Leads the Founding of Daegu Basketball Team

On the bookshelf behind Yang's office, a basketball caught the eye before the books. Why did Yang, who is not close to sports, place a basketball there? Yang explained, "Korea Gas Corporation moved to Daegu in 2014, and quite some time has passed, but recently there were criticisms that its role in regional economic development was insufficient," adding, "I thought about what role it could play, so the basketball team was newly established by acquiring and operating a basketball club, and this ball was a gift." Daegu Korea Gas Corporation Pegasus was founded in 2021 when the Gas Corporation acquired the Incheon Electroland Elephants, based in Daegu.

Her declaration to enter Yeouido was also to make Daegu's economy more prosperous than now. She could have become a proportional representative lawmaker but insisted on a local constituency. Yang's constituency is Buk-gu Gap, Daegu. She said, "I thought there might be a role I could play," adding, "Working hard in various fields such as advanced industries and venture companies is also connected to Daegu's regional economy."

Since Yang's constituency includes Kyungpook National University, she also emphasized expanding the role of regional base universities. Yang analyzed, "The number of university entrants has decreased, and the concentration in the metropolitan area has made the situation very difficult," adding, "Although the conditions of local national universities are better than other local universities, it must have changed compared to the past." She added, "The Yoon Seok-yeol administration said it would open the era of local regions, so it will expand the role of local base universities accordingly."

Yang said that even while serving as a spokesperson, she never missed visiting her constituency once every weekend. She said she was much happier to hear that she "doesn't seem like a lawmaker" in her constituency. Yang said, "I am a comfortable person whom people can meet around, not a lawmaker. I think that is rather my strength."

Yang, who liked the works of German literary giant Hermann Hesse the most, was deeply fascinated by the unique public order of German culture but now thinks a lot about the flexibility of Eastern philosophy and flexibility in a broader sense.

Yang said, "In the past, I thought it was either this or absolutely not, but now I think I lived this way, but it may not all be right," adding, "If there are systems that need to change as times pass, we must be able to follow the changes." She continued, "Sometimes when doing politics, I get caught up in details and forget the basics, but I am constantly trying to think rationally and reasonably."