Controversy Over Abolishing the Ministry of Gender Equality Ignited by Opposition Candidates... Concerns Within About Backlash for Fueling Gender Conflicts

Former Lawmaker Yoo Seung-min and Lawmaker Ha Tae-kyung Raise Issue
Representative Lee Jun-seok Also Supported but "Much More Deliberation Needed"

Lee Jun-seok, Leader of the People Power Party (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy reporters Jinju Han and Boryeong Geum] Opposition presidential candidates have ignited controversy over the 'abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family,' but the People Power Party remains cautious about adopting this as party policy. There are concerns about a backlash for potentially inciting gender conflict, and opposing opinions have also emerged within the opposition party.

When two People Power Party presidential candidates, Yoo Seung-min and Ha Tae-kyung, raised the issue of abolishing the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, party leader Lee Jun-seok, who had expressed support, said on a radio show on the morning of the 8th, "Interpreting the abolition of the Ministry as hostility toward women underestimates politics," adding, "If it is understood as an effort to streamline government, I believe it will receive broad support." Despite opposition from inside and outside the party, he explained that abolishing the ministry is his 'conviction.' However, after the radio broadcast, when reporters asked about plans to adopt it as party policy at the Supreme Council meeting, Lee said, "It needs a much more deliberative process. I hope various ideas come out from each presidential candidate," thus clarifying the situation.

Among the People Power Party presidential candidates, Representative Yoon Hee-sook officially expressed opposition that day. On the radio, she said, "It is an important contribution to have addressed the issue that the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has incited gender conflict," but added, "We need to consider whether the abolition proposal is a solution that can be realistically achieved." Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong also posted on Facebook that day, "No human group's discrimination can be reduced without narrowing the gender gap. Exclusion and hatred are regressions," expressing a negative opinion. Supreme Council member Jo Soo-jin also criticized it as "politics of further division."

However, Representative Ha Tae-kyung reiterated his existing stance on abolishing the ministry that day. On the radio, he said, "It is time for the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family to graduate, but since it hasn't, strange things keep happening," raising his voice, "Because officials are recruited externally, Taliban female supremacists and radicals have entered the ministry and are inciting misandry." As the controversy over abolishing the ministry heated up, the Blue House also added its voice. Cheong Wa Dae Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Lee Cheol-hee appeared on the radio and said, "Since this is a pledge made by presidential candidates, we cannot intervene," but added, "Since such pledges have been made, I hope there will be sufficient social debate and discussion before a decision is made." He called for a more calm social discussion.

There is also widespread evaluation that the political call to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is merely a political strategy to win votes from young men who harbor strong resentment toward women's policies. The Council of Women's Organizations issued a statement saying, "Seeing politicians who further incite conflict makes us fearful. We urge the withdrawal of the abolition proposal." Kim Kyung-sun, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, also drew a line the day before, saying, "Lack of policy effectiveness and abolishing the responsible agency are separate issues." Professor Shin Kyung-ah of Hallym University’s Department of Sociology said, "The argument to change the system because it is ineffective is no different from giving up on women's policies."

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