[Side B] Activist at Sixty Part 2_"30 Years of Feminism History, Now It Must Be Recorded"

A Proud Minority for a Better Non-Mainstream World

From Women's Studies Major to Founding Member of the Korea Sexual Violence Counseling Center
"Women's Studies is a Practical Discipline, Giving Voice to Injustice"
Women's Movement, Activities to Create a Society Where Humans Are Respected Regardless of Gender

[Editor's Note] Following the enactment of the Special Act on Prostitution, the abolition of the family registry system, and the Constitutional Court's ruling on the unconstitutionality of the abortion law, last month saw the amendment of the Act on the Protection of Children and Youth against Sexual Abuse. The women's movement in the 2000s played a pivotal role in setting the direction amid winds of change. Behind this was the unseen effort of women’s movement activists striving to ensure female victims would not suffer twice before the law. We heard that there are activists who have reached their sixties at the Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center, which recently celebrated its 29th anniversary. We met with activists Jeong Jeong-hee, Director of Yeollimteo affiliated with the Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center (above), and Lee Mi-kyung, Director of the Center (below), at the Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center in Mapo-gu, Seoul, and listened to their candid life stories.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] "My grandfather living in the countryside once asked me what my dream was. Influenced by my uncle who was attending law school in Seoul at the time, I said I wanted to be a judge. But my grandfather said, 'Then become a judge’s wife.' Also, when we were electing class president and vice president in elementary school, I wanted to be class president, but the president had to be a boy and girls had to be vice presidents. I thought a lot about why the 'vice' title had to be attached when there was no difference in ability between that child and me. It just didn’t seem right."

Lee Mi-kyung, Director of the Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center, who turned sixty this year, questioned the notion that "because I am a girl, I cannot" from a young age. Unable to find answers, she began to unravel her doubts gradually while studying women’s studies. Majoring in women’s studies in graduate school, she experienced the 'exciting' process of theorizing the issues she had long been aware of. She said, "After graduating from graduate school, I taught women’s studies. Since women’s studies is a practical discipline and there was not a single sexual violence counseling center in our society, we decided to create one. It’s already been 30 years."

Lee, who started as a full-time staff member in 1991 as a general affairs officer at the counseling center, has now become a 30-year veteran activist. She explained, "Everyone grows up on a tilted playing field and experiences discrimination. In that discrimination, I wondered, 'What is this?' and after encountering women’s studies theory, I was able to put unfairness into words."

She said that the women’s movement is something anyone can and should do. It is not only about changing oneself but also about transforming the people around you and, ultimately, society. The core of feminism is to create structural changes to build a society where humans are respected regardless of gender in a gender-discriminatory society.

Lee said, "When you walk down the street, sometimes people ask for directions. If the person giving directions gives wrong information, and you don’t just pass by but speak up, you can participate in the women’s movement. It’s not something grandiose." She added, "It is unfair that young feminists today are disparaged and become targets of concentrated hatred, and this is an issue we must fight together."

At the graduation ceremony of the 1st Sexual Violence Counselors, Jirisan is smiling brightly (left, top photo) / Jirisan participating in the Kim** Case Rescue Committee (right, center, 1991) Source = Korea Sexual Violence Counseling Center

There have been significant turning points in the 30-year history of the women’s movement. The abolition of the family registry system, the repeal of the abortion law, and the enactment of the Special Act on Sexual Violence were victories that changed what was once thought impossible, Lee said. She was also on the front lines during these historic moments. Seeing the #MeToo movement (sexual violence accusation movement) increasingly emerge as a social issue from the sports and entertainment industries to schools in 2018, she said, "The hearts of citizens finally opened to #MeToo."

"I think the Gangnam Station Exit 10 incident opened the door to the popularization of feminism. The 39,000 Post-it notes drew public sympathy, and it wasn’t a specific organization holding the rally but citizens gathering and proceeding. As an activist, I thought our movement landscape was changing. I felt that voices from diverse people were emerging."

She said, "Over 85,000 counseling sessions have been conducted at the center over 30 years, and those people were continuously doing #MeToo." She added, "After decades, Korean society has begun to listen to the voices of victims. It is regrettable that famous victims are highlighted, but regardless of fame or anonymity, we must sound the alarm about the harm experienced by a human being."

Gangnam Station Incident Led to Feminism’s Popularization
Voices from Diverse People Gradually Emerging
#MeToo, Listening to Victims’ Voices
Together in Anti-Sexual Violence Movement in Various Forms

Although the Jirisan traverse planned for this year was canceled, Director Im Gyeong finds comfort in hiking local mountains. (Source=Korean Sexual Violence Counseling Center)

She met her husband in their first year of university, and they have been married for 35 years, with 41 years since they first met. He is a grateful but somewhat frustrating presence who grew alongside her. She recalled, "We are husband and wife as well as friends, but in our home, housework was still largely considered the woman’s responsibility, not much different from the existing system. Sometimes I even thought I was being cowardly for letting things slide." According to those around her, her husband trusts and supports her.

Next year, Lee’s term will end. She said she will continue to participate in the anti-sexual violence movement in some form, even if not as a full-time activist. Reflecting on her life as an activist so far, she expressed a desire to leave a record of it.

"There is a saying that history belongs to those who record it. If I don’t document the important events I experienced as an activist and what society was like at that time, I won’t be able to talk about it later. Women’s history tends to scatter easily... There were parts I missed while responding to the current situation, but this time I want to try to keep it from scattering."

Like her activist name 'Jirisan,' we hope she will always stand firm in that place.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.