Yoo Seung-min: "The Correct Answer Is Not the Resignation but the Dissolution of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family"

"Victims of Power-Related Sexual Crimes Suffer... Minister Makes Offensive Remarks"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min stated on the 6th that Minister of Gender Equality and Family Lee Jung-ok's remark describing the April 2024 by-elections, held due to the sexual harassment cases involving 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 sensitivity," is wrong, saying, "The correct answer is not the minister's resignation but the dismantling of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family."

On the same day, Yoo wrote on Facebook, "Minister Lee has shown herself to lack even the minimum awareness, conscience, and qualifications as the Minister of Gender Equality and Family," adding, "Victims of power-based sexual crimes are suffering extreme pain even at this moment, yet a public official like the minister makes such reckless remarks and still firmly holds her position. This is the essence of the Moon Jae-in administration."

Yoo said, "The victim of former Mayor Oh's sexual crime cried out, 'Am I then a learning material? If there were even a speck of interest in how I live, such words would never be spoken. Hearing those words, I broke down again today. I was so disgusted that I vomited all the food I ate. I wonder if they could say such things in front of me,'" and added, "The victim's voice makes us deeply heartbroken and angry."

Yoo stated, "If the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is anti-women, then it is unnecessary. I promised to abolish the ministry during the 2017 presidential election," and continued, "Women's health, welfare, childcare, and education should be properly managed by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Education. The coexistence of women's work and family life, prohibition of workplace discrimination, and parental leave should be properly handled by the Ministry of Employment and Labor."

Yoo said, "Women's human rights should be properly managed by the Ministry of Justice. Nationwide low birthrate countermeasures and gender-sensitive budgeting should be overseen by the President along with the Ministry of Economy and Finance and related ministries. Countries where women's human rights, social participation, and economic activities are guaranteed do not have a separate Ministry of Women," adding, "Since women, who make up half of the population, are involved in all national policies, having a separate Ministry of Gender Equality and Family only hinders proper women's policies."

Yoo concluded, "The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, which spends 1.2 trillion won in the name of women but does nothing properly for them and only makes reckless remarks," and said, "Creating departments responsible for women's policies within each ministry and establishing a Women's Budget Bureau within the Ministry of Economy and Finance's Budget Office is a much better way to properly implement women's policies."

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