Opposition Ignites Fire Over "Abolition of Ministry of Gender Equality"... Presidential Election 'Gender Issue' Intensifies

Yoon's One-Line Pledge "Abolish Ministry of Gender Equality" on SNS on the 7th
Explosive Response from 'Idaenam' Voters
"Meager for a Presidential Candidate" Criticism from Progressive Parties
Presidential Candidates Wooing 20s Voters Ahead of Election in Two Months
Major Gender Issues Also Emerging Among 20s Men and Women

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is having a meeting with young people at a cafe near the Cultural Park in Sinbu-dong, Cheonan-si, Chungnam Province, on the afternoon of December 1 last year. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] "Abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family."

This was a phrase posted by Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, on his Facebook account on the 7th. Although it was just seven characters without any further explanation, the online reaction was explosive. Within about an hour of the post being uploaded, it received over 7,000 likes and around 2,400 comments. It appears that so-called 'Idaenam (men in their 20s)' voters responded strongly.

With the 20th presidential election about two months away, 'gender issues' are surfacing. The opposition party, aiming to consolidate the Idaenam voters, has pledged to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, but there is also strong opposition from progressive parties.

On the 8th, after attending the 'Special Exhibition of Korean Artists with Developmental Disabilities' held at the Seoul Arts Center, candidate Yoon explained the phrase 'abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family' more specifically to reporters. He said, "Please consider it as something related to the nation and society," adding, "Abolishing the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is a yes. Establishing a Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is a no. Detailed institutional reform plans will be announced later."

Shin Ji-ye (center), former chairperson of the Korea Women’s Political Network, who served as the senior vice chairperson of the People Power Party's New Era Preparation Committee before resigning / Photo by Yonhap News

Yoon's stance on gender policy has undergone dramatic changes recently. During the party's presidential primary, he claimed that "the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family does not properly perform its gender equality functions" and said, "I will abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and establish a Ministry of Gender Equality and Family."

However, after being selected as the presidential candidate, he took a surprising step by recruiting so-called 'feminist figures' such as Professor Lee Soo-jung of Kyonggi University's Department of Criminal Psychology and former Korean Women's Political Network representative Shin Ji-ye. This led to conflicts with Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party. But after a 'dramatic reconciliation' with Lee at the party's parliamentary meeting on the 7th, he once again raised the pledge to "abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family."

The progressive Justice Party immediately opposed the People Power Party's move. On the 7th, the same day Yoon announced his 'one-line pledge' to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, Justice Party presidential candidate Shim Sang-jung posted the phrase "Strengthen the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family" on her Facebook. Like Yoon's post, she did not add any further explanation. This was interpreted as a satirical criticism of Yoon's way of announcing pledges.

When candidate Yoon proposed the "Abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family" as a 'one-line pledge,' Sim Sang-jung, the Justice Party presidential candidate, responded with an identical one-line pledge to "Strengthen the Ministry of Gender Equality." / Photo by Facebook capture

Justice Party Youth Representative Kang Min-jin also wrote on Facebook, "(Candidate Yoon) Are you writing answers to the practice questions given by Leader Lee Jun-seok? Or are you writing a reflection letter to the male-dominated community?" and criticized, "For a presidential candidate, this is quite pathetic."

Meanwhile, Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, appeared on the YouTube channel 'Dotface,' which produces content related to gender equality.

Some netizens criticized this decision, saying, "Withdraw from the feminist broadcast," but Lee mentioned these comments during a YouTube live broadcast conducted while traveling by public transportation in Seoul, explaining, "We need to listen to everyone's stories as much as possible. Because everyone is a citizen, we are also listening to opinions from Femco, DC Inside, and various other sites."

With only 58 days left until the 20th presidential election voting day, as candidates fiercely court the votes of voters in their 20s, 'gender conflict' is emerging as a major issue.

Gender conflict among people in their 20s is not a recent phenomenon. According to a 2020 survey conducted by the Korea Women's Development Institute targeting 6,570 young people aged 19 to 34, 51.7% of young men in Korea responded that "our society is unfair to men," while 74.6% of women answered that "it is unfair to women." Those who perceived "our society as gender-equal" were a minority among both men (29.7%) and women (17.7%).

Because the perspectives on gender equality between the two groups are sharply divided, voices demanding 'gender policies' from presidential candidates have also emerged. Last year, a netizen on the online community 'DC Inside' sent a letter to candidate Lee, saying, "The Democratic Party has been obsessed with female preferential policies," and urged, "Stop the madness of feminism. If you do that, I will proudly go around saying I voted for Lee Jae-myung with a happy heart." Lee shared this letter on his Facebook in November last year, writing, "Please read it together."

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, shared this post on his Facebook last November. / Photo by Lee Jae-myung Facebook capture

However, dissatisfaction is also growing among women in their 20s. There are criticisms that the political sphere is only focused on listening to the demands of men in their 20s. Female voters poured criticism on Lee's post, saying, "Are young women not youth?" and "Are you trying to stir up gender conflict to win male votes?"

Regarding Yoon's phrase "abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family" written on the 7th, female voters also voiced criticisms. They said, "Trying to embrace Idaenam will lose Idaenyeo (women in their 20s)," and "How is abolishing the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family a solution to gender equality issues?"

Experts pointed out that as long as social discrimination issues remain, policies to alleviate gender conflict by abolishing the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family would not be effective.

Kim Ji-hak, director of the Korea Diversity Research Institute, explained, "Discrimination and violence do not occur equally across all groups but have a greater impact on vulnerable groups," adding, "The intensity of discrimination experienced by men and women, who have been socially dominant groups for a long time, differs."

He continued, "From this perspective, it would be more positive for society if (a women-dedicated ministry like the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family) eventually disappears, but that is a story for when discrimination against women has disappeared," and said, "Currently, when discrimination against women remains in workplaces, public safety, and socially and culturally, it is not the right time to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family."

He added, "Almost all advanced countries have government ministries dedicated to women and youth, and especially in Korea, the policy budget for socially vulnerable groups like women is relatively small," pointing out, "Rather than the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family worsening gender conflict, it is more likely that it fails to properly protect women and youth due to its small budget."

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