Name Change and German-Style System... Flood of Alternatives Urging "Save the Ministry of Gender Equality"

Former Minister Jang Hajin Proposes Renaming to 'Gender Equality, Family, and Youth Ministry'
Women's Groups Emphasize Need for Dedicated 'Gender Equality' Policy Ministry
Women's Organizations Suggest German-Style Structure with 1 Minister, 3 Vice Ministers, and Family Ministry

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol reiterated his commitment to abolishing the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, stating, "Hasn't the ministry fulfilled its historical mission by now?" Meanwhile, on the 14th, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family at the Government Seoul Office, facing a crossroads regarding its existence, is stirring uneasily in a restless atmosphere. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The women's community has put forward various alternatives in response to the new government's plan to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Proposals range from establishing a Ministry of Gender Equality, Family, and Youth to reorganizing into a system with one minister and three vice ministers like Germany, but it remains uncertain whether they can persuade the transition committee.

On the 31st, inside and outside the transition committee, plans are being considered to remove the term "women" from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and absorb its functions into a new ministry named the Ministry of Gender Equality and Future or the Ministry of Future Families.

Women's organizations oppose this, calling it a "division of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and a move to reduce gender equality policies." They argue that a dedicated ministry for gender equality is essential to address pressing issues such as structural gender discrimination, gender-based violence, and the caregiving crisis exacerbated by COVID-19. Their top priority alternative is to strengthen authority and budget while renaming it the Ministry of Gender Equality, Family, and Youth.

On the 30th, at the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Professor Emeritus Joeun of Dongguk University is speaking at the 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 Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Jang Ha-jin, former minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, said at a forum jointly hosted by the Federation of Women's Organizations and the Women's Studies Association the day before, "Historical experience shows that it was most efficient to have the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family as a ministry, and I think moving toward the Ministry of Gender Equality, Family, and Youth would be good." Jang added, "During the Roh Moo-hyun administration, childcare policy was transferred to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, establishing the basic policy of free childcare. Family policy needs to be further expanded, and youth policy should be developed with a new perspective. The transition committee is an institution that filters election pledges, and I earnestly ask Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo not to dismantle the tower that women have built over decades."

Hwang Jeong-mi, a visiting researcher at the Seoul National University Institute of Women's Studies, said, "Responsible discussions that move beyond political framing toward practical solutions are necessary. Gender equality policy is an issue that connects labor, care, and reproduction. Splitting the functions of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is like cutting off the head and leaving only the hands and feet; a control tower is absolutely necessary."

Earlier, on the 30th, the Council of Women's Organizations met with Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo of the transition committee and proposed reorganizing into a German-style system with one minister and three vice ministers (gender equality, low birthrate, welfare), restructuring youth, family, and welfare policies into a single "Ministry of Family," and establishing a presidential-level Gender Equality Commission.

Germany has the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, while Sweden has the Ministry of Gender Equality and Housing. Germany's gender equality goals include integration into the labor market under equal conditions, securing economic stability, social security for unpaid care work, and resolving companionate gender relations and gender stereotypes. Sweden's goals include equal distribution of power and influence, equal sharing of unpaid care and household work, and the elimination of male violence against women.

Chairman Ahn reportedly said at the meeting, "I will listen to various opinions," but did not present any specific alternatives regarding the reorganization of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is sending one director-level official to the transition committee not as a secondment but on a business trip basis to gather opinions on organizational restructuring and explore response measures.

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