Minister of Gender Equality and Family: "By-election as a Gender Sensitivity Learning Opportunity"... Opposition Party: "Should Resign Voluntarily" (Comprehensive)

People Power Party: "No different from secondary perpetrators"
People's Party: "Speechless at absurd remarks"
Justice Party: "Defending with sophistry while ignoring the essence"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Minister of Gender Equality and Family Lee Jung-ok sparked controversy by referring to next year's by-elections, held due to sexual harassment allegations against the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon and former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don, as "an opportunity for the entire nation to collectively learn about gender awareness."

On the 5th, during the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Committee's comprehensive policy questioning, when People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Joo-kyung asked, "838 billion won is being spent on the election; have you considered the impact on victims or women?" Minister Lee responded, "I believe that through incidents requiring large budgets, the entire nation can have an opportunity for collective learning about gender awareness."

When Lawmaker Yoon, with a bewildered expression, retorted, "Do you consider this a learning fee? Are you really the Minister of Gender Equality and Family appointed by President Moon Jae-in?" Minister Lee said, "In any situation, we must try to find positive elements for the country."

When Lawmaker Yoon sharply questioned, "Minister, that is a very convenient statement. Aren't the cases of former Mayors Park Won-soon and Oh Keo-don typical power-based sexual crimes?" Minister Lee replied, "It is not appropriate to specify charges in ongoing investigations."

Minister Lee added, "If issues of gender equality or sexual violence victims become overly politicized, it can cause secondary harm to the victims," and said, "Especially, we are doing our best in cooperation with related ministries to ensure that the victim in Seoul can return to work without being caught up in excessive political strife and can safely complete their career until retirement."

The opposition reacted strongly, calling for the minister's resignation and even the dissolution of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Hwang Gyu-hwan, deputy spokesperson of the People Power Party, said in a statement that day, "This statement makes us question the very reason for the existence of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family," and added, "The minister is no different from a secondary perpetrator. She should step down voluntarily."

Ahn Hye-jin, spokesperson for the People's Party, sarcastically said, "I am speechless at such an absurd statement," and added, "If anything, we should urge them to actively engage in sexual harassment and scandals to improve the nation's gender awareness level." She continued, "The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is more focused on leaking taxpayers' money to groups colluding with the regime than on its original duties. Rather than maintaining it and wasting taxpayers' money, dissolution is the answer."

Jung Ho-jin, senior spokesperson for the Justice Party, criticized, "No one in their right mind could say such things. This by-election is being held due to power-based sexual crimes involving abuse of authority," and questioned, "Are you going to defend it with sophistry while ignoring the essence?"

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