Yoon: "Using Part of Gender-Sensitive Budget to Counter North Korea's Nuclear Threat"... "Another Absurd Remark" Criticized by Choo Mi-ae and Sim Sang-jung

Yoon's Remarks on Gender-Sensitive Budget at Campaign Site
Choo: "Ignorance at an Irredeemable Level"
Shim: "Obsessed with Anti-Women Campaign Based on Faulty Logic"

Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, is performing an uppercut ceremony at a campaign rally held on the 27th in Sinheung-dong, Buk-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongbuk.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae and Justice Party presidential candidate Sim Sang-jung criticized Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, for his remark that "even using only a portion of the 30 trillion won gender-responsive budget can prevent the North Korean nuclear threat," calling it "an outrageous statement."

On the 28th, former Minister Choo posted on Facebook, saying, "He once again reminded us that his ignorance about gender sensitivity is beyond remedy."

Earlier, on the 27th, during a campaign event in front of Buk Pohang Post Office in Sinheung-dong, Buk-gu, Pohang City, Gyeongbuk Province, candidate Yoon stated, "(North Korea) has already conducted its eighth missile test capable of carrying a nuclear warhead this year," adding, "This government has spent 30 trillion won on a gender-responsive budget, and even if only a portion of that is diverted, we can multilayeredly and safely block North Korea's absurd nuclear threats."

In response, former Minister Choo pointed out, "Candidate Yoon previously said that feminism is the cause of non-marriage and low birth rates, and furthermore, his spouse Kim Geon-hee mocked Me Too victims by saying, 'If you pay money, Me Too won't happen,' didn't she?"

Additionally, former Minister Choo emphasized that "South Korea's defense capability ranks sixth in the world, and defense spending accounts for 6% of GDP, ranking eighth globally," highlighting that defense spending and the gender-responsive budget are separate.

Candidate Sim also voiced criticism toward candidate Yoon. On the same day, he posted on his Facebook, stating, "(Candidate Yoon's campaign remarks) are yet another outrageous statement attacking women, following the abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and the strengthening of false accusation laws related to sexual violence," and pointed out, "The total size of last year's gender-responsive budget, including all 304 projects across 38 government ministries, was 34.9311 trillion won. Last year's Ministry of Gender Equality and Family budget was only 1.2 trillion won, which is just 0.2% of the entire government budget."

He continued, "I am deeply concerned whether a candidate who, without a basic understanding of the government budget, uncritically adopts incorrect facts and logic circulating only in some (online) communities and devotes himself to anti-women campaigns can properly manage state affairs," urging candidate Yoon to correct the facts and apologize.

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