[Report] "Hate Politics Erasing Women OUT"... Condemning 'Gender Divide' Politics

116 Organizations Including Korean Womenlink Hold Rally Criticizing Presidential Election Climate Where 'Women's Agenda' Is Missing
About 300 Participants Gather... "Politics Dividing by Gender and Generation Must Stop"
Men's Groups "Oppose Feminism"... 'Counter Rally' Also Held
President Moon: "Will Strive to Heal Conflicts Through True Gender Equality... Do Our Best to Solve Youth Issues"

At 2 p.m. on the 12th, a citizen belonging to the 'Cheongju Feminist Network Gyaene' participating in the '2022 Feminist Sovereignty Action' held in front of Bosingak in Jongno-gu, Seoul, is holding a placard that reads "Hate Politics Erasing Women OUT." Photo by Seulgi Yoon seul97@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] "Let's end discriminatory and hateful politics.", "Feminists change the world."

On the afternoon of the 12th at 2 PM, in front of Bosingak in Jongno-gu, Seoul, the women's organization coalition '2022 Feminist Sovereignty Action' held a rally condemning the presidential candidates, stating that "the 20th presidential election was stained with misogyny."

The rally, participated by 116 organizations including the Korean Women’s Minwoo Association and the Gender Politics Research Institute Yeoseyeon, was held under the name "Let's break the politics of discrimination, hatred, and incitement of hatred." The coalition criticized the political circles and media showing regressive actions regarding women's issues. About 300 people, including women's groups and individuals, participated in the rally.

A 20-year-old participant, A, from the 'Cheongju Feminist Network Gaene,' said, "As you go to the regions, feminism appears fragmented. Women's voices inevitably become smaller in the provinces," adding, "I came here to criticize the political circles that focus only on agenda setting for 'Idaenam' (men in their 20s) and neglect women." Another participant in her 20s, Lee, said, "I came out in anger at the presidential candidate's remarks denying that women are vulnerable and that there is no gender discrimination," criticizing, "It is wrong to focus only on the voices of Idaenam without saying a word about the sexual violence issues women face."

A citizen wrote "Junseok, do you think women are easy?" on a sign that the '2022 Feminist Sovereignty Action' handed out for the '20th Presidential Election Voting'. Photo by Seulgi Yoon seul97@asiae.co.kr

The protesters particularly emphasized the serious problem of politicians' 'gender division.' B, in his 30s, pointed out, "Representative Lee Jun-seok of the People Power Party is a typical politician who ignores women's issues and uses conflict in politics to gain votes." Another participant, Kim, in his 20s, raised his voice, saying, "In the past, there was at least awareness of women's issues, and they showed interest in women's agendas, calling for a feminist president, but now that is no longer the case. It is only about 'Idaenam'."

'Idaenam' is a generational theory that emerged prominently in politics after the April 7 by-elections. It was highlighted through politics and media as 72.5% of men in their 20s supported Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate at the time, showing their strong solidarity. Since then, political circles began to focus on the voices of Idaenam expressed through male online communities. Presidential candidates Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party and Yoon Seok-youl of the People Power Party each presented pledges appealing to them, such as "soldier salary of 2 million won" and "abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family," actively courting Idaenam.

This focus of presidential candidates on specific generations and genders led to criticism that gender issues are being politicized as tools. On the 10th, female researchers and activists held a press conference at the Yeongdeungpo-gu Women's Future Center Communication Hall, particularly regarding Yoon's pledge to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, stating, "Despite limited personnel and insufficient budget, the Ministry has made significant contributions to improving women's rights through important achievements such as the introduction of the three maternal protection laws, supplementation of the Equal Employment Act, the Anti-Prostitution Act, and the abolition of the family registry system," urging, "Withdraw the claim to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and each party's presidential candidate should present measures to practically expand gender equality policies."

'Feminism with Men' activist's placard phrase for the 20th Presidential Election voting. Photo by Seulgi Yoon seul97@asiae.co.kr

Although 'Idaenam' has been analyzed as strongly opposing feminist policies, there were men at the rally shouting that feminism is necessary. Lee Han (30), who identified himself as an activist for 'feminism with men,' said, "I came out to improve gender discrimination issues." Lee wrote on the '20th Presidential Election Vote' placard distributed by the organizers, "Feminism will become our language! Feminism education, like Korean, English, and Math!"

The rally of '2022 Feminist Sovereignty Action' was continuously disrupted by a 'counter-rally' held by a men's group. The men's group held a political feminist condemnation rally, shouting opposition to feminism or playing recordings of candidate Lee's abusive language loudly through loudspeakers.

Kim, in his 30s, said, "It seems they are holding a counter-rally to disrupt and make women’s protests unpleasant," adding, "While everyone should be guaranteed freedom of assembly, such a method of counter-rally does not seem appropriate. However, since the behavior of men's groups disrupting women's protests has been repeated several times, it no longer bothers us as much as before. The protesters also seem to be focusing without concern."

On the afternoon of the 12th, the women's organization coalition '2022 Feminist Sovereignty Action' held a rally in front of Bosingak in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to condemn the current presidential election in which women's issues have been omitted. Photo by Seulgi Yoon seul97@asiae.co.kr

Meanwhile, the government also recognizes that the 'gender conflict' issue is serious. President Moon Jae-in expressed concern in a written interview with Yonhap News Agency and the world's seven major news agencies on the 10th, saying, "It is serious that gender conflict in Korean society is more prominent among the youth," and "Since young people face difficulties and especially limited opportunities, both women and men seem to perceive themselves as 'victims of gender discrimination.'"

President Moon emphasized, "The difficulties of the younger generation are the responsibility of the older generation who failed to provide more opportunities and belief in fairness, not the fault of men or women," and "The government will do its best to heal conflicts and promote integration through genuine gender equality, while ensuring that young people facing intense competition are guaranteed more opportunities in jobs, housing, education, and asset formation."

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