Disrupted Gender Equality Committee Meeting Amid Ruling Party Absence... Opposition Demands Investigation into Alleged Election Manipulation

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] The National Assembly's Gender Equality and Family Committee convened on the 2nd regarding allegations that the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family was involved in the ruling party's presidential campaign pledge development, but the meeting was disrupted due to the ruling party's absence.

On this day, all Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers except for Song Okju, the chairperson of the Gender Equality and Family Committee, were absent. The Minister and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family also did not attend.

Kim Jeongjae, a member of the opposition People Power Party and the committee's secretary, criticized during the plenary session, saying, "The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, which should maintain political neutrality, is mobilizing public officials to engage in electioneering," calling it "a clear violation of political neutrality and election interference."

Kim stated, "The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is literally the 'Ruling Party Family Ministry.' They rolled up their sleeves and took the lead in the ruling party's election campaign. It raises serious concerns whether not only the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family but also public officials from all government departments are involved in creating the ruling party's presidential campaign pledges."

He further emphasized, "President Moon Jae-in must immediately dismiss Minister Jeong Yeongae and Vice Minister Kim Gyeongseon of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family."

Members of the People Power Party's Gender Equality and Family Committee visited the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family in protest around 11 a.m. that day. Lawmakers Kim Jeongjae, Kim Mia, Yang Geumhee, Jeong Gyeonghui, and Jeon Juhye met with Minister Jeong at the Government Seoul Office and demanded the submission of materials related to the policy pledge development meetings.

After the meeting, Kim stated, "Today, the minister changed her story. She said the meeting was for mid- to long-term policy tasks and suggested that discussions about pledges might have been included as if bundled together. She changed her words," and claimed, "After the meeting, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family handed over the materials to the Democratic Party side."

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