Calls for 'Strengthening Gender Equality Policies' Flood Abolition Debate of Ministry of Gender Equality... Jang Hajin Proposes "Ministry of Gender Equality, Family, and Youth"

Korean Association of Women's Studies - Korean Women's Associations United - Gender-Responsive Budget Network Joint Forum
Emphasizing the Need for a Gender Equality Policy Control Tower to Address Structural Gender Inequality

On the 30th, at the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Kim Hyun-mi, President of the Korean Association of Women's Studies (Professor at Yonsei University), is speaking at a discussion forum on strengthening the new government's gender equality policies, titled "Diagnosis of the Abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and Government Organization Reform Plans for Gender Equality Policies." Photo by Kim Hyon-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] "It is most efficient to have the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family as a ministry. That is historical experience. I am thinking about whether it could become the Ministry of Gender Equality, Family, and Youth." (Jang Hajin, former Minister of Gender Equality and Family)

"The Ministry of Justice is the most obstructive ministry for victims of gender-based violence. If the current system is dismantled, it will create a void rather than a blind spot." (Lee Hayoung, co-representative of the National Solidarity for the Resolution of Prostitution Issues)

Women's studies scholars and women's organizations have criticized the new government's Presidential Transition Committee's policy to abolish or reduce the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. They argued that promoting gender equality policies is necessary to resolve structural gender discrimination, and for this, the ministry's authority and budget should be expanded.

On the 30th, a forum titled "Diagnosis of the Abolition Theory of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and Government Organization Reform Plans for Gender Equality Policies" was held at Areumdri Hall, People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, Tongin-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, hosted by the Korean Association of Women's Studies, Korean Women's Associations United, and Korean Gender-Responsive Budget Network.

Professors Kang Isu of Sangji University and Shin Kyunga of Hallym University analyzed the socio-political context of the abolition theory under the theme "Urgent Diagnosis of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Abolition Theory." At the start of the Lee Myung-bak administration in 2008, the ministry was mentioned as a target for abolition under the slogan "small but competent government," and later, following the Constitutional Court ruling against military service bonus points and the game shutdown system, it began to be attacked on the internet. The "Lee Daenam" (young male) frame gained attention during the 2020 Seoul mayoral by-election, and the abolition pledge reappeared in the 2022 presidential election.

The recent resurgence of the issue of abolishing the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family was centered around Lee Jun-seok during the People Power Party's leadership election process. The number of articles mentioning "abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family," "abolition of women's quotas," "reverse discrimination against men," and "military bonus points" surged from 212 in August 2020 to 1,387 in July 2021. The abolition theory intertwined with the political strategy to utilize the Lee Daenam frame, expanding into a gender conflict frame.

Professor Kang Isu said, "After Lee Jun-seok, the People Power Party leader, mentioned the abolition issue in the primary debate, the number of related articles exploded. Although it was not an important agenda before, this was an attempt to gain influence. Within the People Power Party, there were calls to reconsider the abolition pledge and to elevate the issue of low birthrate and family problems to a deputy prime minister level, showing confused responses, which indicates that the abolition pledge was presented without preparation or basis."

Professor Kang diagnosed that the survival anxiety of young people should also be approached from a "gender equality" perspective. He explained, "The crisis situations faced by men in their 20s and 30s, such as employment instability, military service burden, and intensified competition, have been displaced into anger toward women and foreigners, and the political sphere has amplified this by highlighting 'gender conflict.' Healing the crisis of the younger generation and gender conflict is possible through promoting gender equality policies that integrate support for work, life, child-rearing, and care for both men and women."

There were also claims that strengthening gender equality policies is necessary instead of abolishing the ministry. Professor Kang pointed out, "With the disappearance of the ministry responsible for gender equality, the gender equality promotion system risks regression and collapse. If the ministry is abolished and its functions dispersed to other ministries, gender equality perspectives in work or policies will be excluded or marginalized."

On the 30th, at the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Kim Hyun-mi, President of the Korean Association of Women's Studies (Professor at Yonsei University), is speaking at a discussion forum on strengthening the new government's gender equality policies, titled "Diagnosis of the Abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and Government Organization Reform Plans for Gender Equality Policies." Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Professor Kim Kyunghee of the Department of Sociology at Chung-Ang University emphasized the need to establish advanced country-type gender equality policies, mentioning the gap between economic levels and international gender equality levels, and the care crisis caused by COVID-19, under the theme "Strengthening Gender Equality Policies and Reform Plans for the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family." Professor Kim diagnosed, "The agencies responsible for women's policies have been marginalized, and despite the intent of gender equality policies, they have not gained status or authority. Although laws related to prostitution and sexual violence have been enacted, they failed to address the structural gender inequality, and as this mechanism was reproduced, gender discrimination in wages, employment, and promotion persisted."

Regarding the transition committee's plan to separate the ministry's policies into the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Justice, and others, Professor Kim expressed concern that only "functions" might remain. He pointed out, "Issues such as employment, sexual harassment, and sexual violence are scattered across multiple ministries, resulting in insufficient supervision and management of gender discrimination and a lack of gender equality perspectives. Without integrated functions, only functions will remain without goals or vision."

Professor Kim added, "An independent ministry dedicated to gender equality is absolutely necessary and must be able to carry out three tasks: eliminating the gender wage gap, creating a gender-equal safe society to eradicate gender violence, and establishing a gender-equal care society."

On the 30th, at the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Kim Hyun-mi, President of the Korean Association of Women's Studies (Professor at Yonsei University), is speaking at a discussion forum on strengthening gender equality policies in the new government, titled "Diagnosis of the Abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and Government Organization Reform Plans for Gender Equality Policies." Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Women's studies scholars and related organizations also express concerns about policy gaps and support for marginalized groups if the ministry is abolished or separated.

Hwang Jungmi, a visiting researcher at the Seoul National University Institute of Women's Studies and a discussant, said, "Responsible discussions moving beyond political frames toward practical and realistic approaches are necessary. Gender equality policies are issues that connect labor, care, and reproduction, and splitting the ministry according to functions is like cutting off the head and leaving only the hands and feet. A control tower is absolutely necessary."

Lee Hayoung, co-representative of the National Solidarity for the Resolution of Prostitution Issues, explained, "Gender-based violence has a low reporting rate, and only a very small number of people can obtain the status of crime victims. I am very concerned about transferring this system to the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Justice has punished victims of child and adolescent sexual exploitation and opposed the revision of the rape law. I don't know if they can create a system that fully understands and supports victims."

Ham Ahyeon, an activist with the Single Mothers Association Intri, which creates a changed future, said, "Korea is not a gender-equal society, and the mission of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is not over. Many discriminations still exist. I oppose the abolition of the ministry for a society where unmarried mothers, single parents, and whoever people live with are respected as members of our society and are not classified as abnormal, discriminated against, or excluded."

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