Is the Solution to Eradicating Sexual Crimes Excluding Women? ... Is the 'Pence Rule' Proposed by Mayor Kim Je Justified?

Fence Rule, 'I Won't Work or Talk with Female Colleagues'... Logic Excluding Women
Citizens Criticize, "Fence Rule Is Not the Answer... Need Gender Sensitivity"
Experts Say, "Operates as a Mechanism Repeating Sexual Violence Crimes... Also an Employment Inequality Issue"

Kim Hye-jung, Deputy Director of the Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center, is holding a placard with the phrase "We stand in solidarity with the victims" at a press conference on the sexual harassment case by the Seoul mayor, held on the 13th at the Korea Women's Hotline in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] Amid the growing controversy surrounding the sexual harassment allegations against the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, criticism continues to mount after it was revealed that Park Jun-bae, Mayor of Gimje City, implemented the so-called 'Pence Rule' by eliminating female employees from the executive secretary office.

The Pence Rule originates from a 2002 interview when Mike Pence, then a U.S. Congressman, stated, "I do not have dinner alone with any woman other than my wife, nor do I attend social events without my wife." It is used as a rationale for excluding women from work and conversations to eliminate the possibility of sexual crimes.

Women's groups argue that the Pence Rule itself stems from gender discrimination and point out that such measures are ineffective in eradicating sexual crimes such as coercive sexual harassment through abuse of power.

On the 15th, a media outlet introduced Mayor Park's secretary office, which excluded female employees, as a model case in an article titled "Eliminate female employees from the secretary office ? Attention on Mayor of Gimje’s office without female staff." According to the article, all four secretaries in the Gimje mayor’s office are male, following Mayor Park’s strict order due to sensitivity to sexual misconduct and scandals.

The article reportedly included phrases such as "The Gimje mayor’s secretary office has completely blocked any rumors or even the slightest misunderstanding related to female employees," "There is a nodding atmosphere toward Mayor Park Jun-bae’s early decision to exclude female employees," and "Mayor Park, who has an unusually high gender sensitivity, strictly regulates female employees from coming alone to the mayor’s office for approvals." The article has since been deleted.

However, as this information spread through social media and other channels, public criticism against Mayor Park, who implemented the Pence Rule, has intensified. Critics argue that the Pence Rule is neither a measure to prevent recurrence of coercive sexual harassment through abuse of power nor a solution, but rather shifts the responsibility for sexual crimes onto the victims.

Photo by Yonhap News

Citizens collectively stated, "Instead of educating not to commit sexual crimes and changing the organizational atmosphere, excluding those who could become victims of sexual crimes is absolutely not a model case."

A 27-year-old office worker A said, "The Pence Rule is problematic because it unilaterally excludes female victims who are discriminated against in a male-dominated society without addressing the root cause of gender discrimination, which is a 'male power-centered society.' It not only gives the impression that women harass 'innocent' men but also fails to fix the fundamental problem of male power dominance."

Another office worker B (29) also said, "In this case, the perpetrators of sexual crimes are male high-ranking officials, but ultimately, female workers are the ones pointed out to be excluded from work. If you want to cut off the root of the problem, shouldn’t the perpetrators be excluded? The Pence Rule is just another form of discrimination against women," raising their voice.

Ryu Ho-jeong, a Justice Party lawmaker, stated on June 13 on YTN Radio's "Noh Young-hee's Start Morning," "I don’t think the Pence Rule can be a fundamental solution."

Ryu added, "There must be an improvement in the awareness of those in power, and for that, strict law enforcement and changes to outdated systems are essential. Strengthening sexual sensitivity education for high-ranking public officials could also be considered."

Experts pointed out that the Pence Rule is not a device to prevent sexual violence but rather functions as a mechanism that socially perpetuates sexual violence crimes.

Seo Seung-hee, head of the Korea Cyber Sexual Violence Response Center, said in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the 17th, "Since it is impossible to organize all spaces completely separated by men and women, the Pence Rule can never be considered an alternative. The very operation of the Pence Rule implies that 'women are still sexual objects, men cannot control such desires, and therefore sexual violence is bound to repeat,'" criticizing the rule.

She continued, "Then, when separation occurs, it is women who cannot reach high public office or important positions because the current male power occupies those seats. This approach will never break the glass ceiling and will also cause employment inequality issues," she explained.

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