[The Editors' Verdict] Conditions for the Birth of a Female Mayor in Seoul

Imokhee Lee, Senior Specialist

I hoped the political arena would be filled with women. When deeply engaged in reporting, journalists can also be clumsy politicians. Late-night drinking gatherings, searching for hometown and school seniors and juniors. I realized and reflected on how I was sinking into such a culture myself. How can we fundamentally fix this? There are arguments women put forward when entering politics: rejecting cliquish culture, integrity, warm maternal love. But the actual results were different. Successful female politicians did not manage to shed the shortcomings of men.

It is not only the fault of women. The government and political circles produce committees to justify their decisions. There is a female quota in selecting members from various sectors, usually about 20-30%. Participating in several committees, I felt the male-centered society. Daytime meetings were mere formalities?moderate discussions and approval of predetermined conclusions. The core was the evening gatherings. Deep conversations that couldn’t be had during meetings continued there. The operation patterns of the National Assembly, political parties, and administrative departments were similar. It was hard to become a frontrunner without being called a strong woman. A female senior official in a government ministry recalled, "I didn’t want to lose to men, so I endured the drinking sessions even when I was vomiting." The macho society symbolized by raucous drinking parties. If you couldn’t join, you were excluded from information and influence.

What made me think more about female leadership was former President Park Geun-hye. The 2012 presidential election was very close. A close aide of Park subtly revealed, "We will emphasize her being a woman at the last moment." I was skeptical because I had never seen highlighting a woman be advantageous for votes. Anyway, Park was elected. If she had done well, she would have opened the era of female politics widely. But President Park was not ordinary. She was a secluded, closed princess. The authority inherited from her father was an advantage during the election but became a poison after taking office. Her laser-like gaze caused discomfort.

Margaret Thatcher of the UK, Indira Gandhi of India, Golda Meir of Israel?widely known female leaders in the international community?were so strong they could outmatch men. Looking domestically, it was not only former President Park. Many women in key positions were as stubborn as men. They did not want to hear the public say, "She is weak because she is a woman."

Whether we want it or not, all fields are moving toward an era of gender parity. Politics is no exception. This is why the birth of the first female mayor of Seoul is noteworthy. Because of the background of the by-election scheduled for next April, it seems women have priority. A recent survey by Research & Research targeting Seoul voters earlier this month is interesting. Minister of SMEs and Startups Park Young-sun led within the margin of error. Former People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won was second. Following were Cho Eun-hee, Mayor of Seocho District in Seoul; People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Hee-sook; and former People Power Party lawmaker Lee Hye-hoon, all positioned near the front.

I hope female candidates do not rely on the male-centered society’s resistance. If they end up resembling male politics, they will only be side characters. I hope female politicians are not labeled as hardline or single-minded. I wish for the dissolution of factional politics through ideological flexibility and gentle charisma. I hope they lead a new culture of compromise. At the same time, they must show firmness in livelihood policies.

It is not easy to catch two rabbits at once. But this time, women must show what male politicians could not. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, who practiced 'mom leadership' through communication, integration, and pragmatism. Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand, who became a star for her excellent COVID-19 response. We too must now properly establish the identity of female politics. I hope the Seoul mayoral by-election becomes a catalyst that accelerates the time when women fill the majority in politics.

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