野 "Minister Lee Jung-ok's resignation required for budget review".. National Assembly Women's Committee stalls in 10 minutes

Repeated Criticism of Remarks on 'Gender Sensitivity Learning Opportunities'

Minister of Gender Equality and Family Lee Jung-ok is responding to a lawmaker's question at the plenary session of the Budget and Accounts Committee held at the National Assembly on the 5th. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] The plenary meeting of the Women and Family Committee held at the National Assembly was disrupted after about 10 minutes due to opposition party protests. Opposition lawmakers demanded the resignation of Minister of Gender Equality and Family Lee Jeong-ok, saying, "We cannot recognize such a person as a minister."

The Women and Family Committee held a plenary meeting on the morning of the 10th to review the 2021 budget proposal. Immediately after Chairperson Jeong Chunsook presented the budget proposal, Kim Jeongjae, the floor leader of the People Power Party, called for Minister Lee's resignation through a procedural speech.

Earlier, Minister Lee sparked controversy by stating at the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Special Committee plenary meeting on the 5th that the Seoul and Busan mayoral by-elections next April "would be an opportunity for the entire nation to collectively learn about gender sensitivity."

Lawmaker Kim criticized Minister Lee, saying she "is deceiving women." He continued, "If sexual harassment is considered a learning material for sex education, then does that mean drinking and murder are learning materials for respecting life?" He pointed out, "The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, which protects perpetrators and neglects victims, has no reason to exist." He then demanded a recess, stating, "We cannot review the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family's budget of about 1.2 trillion won with a minister we cannot accept."

As opposition lawmakers continued their protests, Chairperson Jeong eventually declared a recess.

Meanwhile, members of the People Power Party and the People Party belonging to the Women and Family Committee held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Hall immediately after the recess of the committee meeting, stating, "We cannot review the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family's budget for women's rights and victim protection with Minister Lee, who is unqualified as the minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family," and "All members of the Women and Family Committee from the People Power Party and the People Party strongly urge Minister Lee to resign."

They added, "As long as Minister Lee clings to her position, she cannot participate in the budget review of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family," and "Please keep in mind that the only way to review the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family's budget, which amounts to 1.2 trillion won, is for the minister to take responsibility herself."

They further urged Minister Lee's resignation, saying, "The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, which sides with sexual violence perpetrators and neglects victims, has no reason to exist any longer. The minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, who should represent women, is instead deceiving women."

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