Kim Hyun-sook, Minister of Gender Equality nominee, "Must transform into a department to resolve gender conflicts"

Last Hearing for Final Minister of Gender Equality Candidate Held
Responses on 'Abolishing Ministry of Gender Equality' Vary by Ruling and Opposition Lawmakers

Kim Hyun-sook, nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, is delivering an opening statement at the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly on the 11th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Kim Hyun-sook, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, stated on the 11th regarding the direction of the ministry's reorganization, "It must transform into a department that plays a practical role in resolving gender conflicts."

At the confirmation hearing held by the National Assembly's Gender Equality and Family Committee on the same day, Kim said, "The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has achieved results such as the abolition of the family registry system, support for women with career interruptions, abolition of the statute of limitations for sexual violence crimes, and establishment of a support system for digital sex crimes." However, she added, "It has caused disappointment due to insufficient resolution of gender conflicts and a lukewarm response to power-based sexual crimes, and it is time to attempt a major transformation to suit the new environment." She also said, "I will do my best to ensure that the ministry is reborn as a government department that meets the expectations of the public."

Emphasizing the role in resolving gender conflicts, Kim stated, "We will establish a new paradigm that addresses population, family, and child issues and solves the problems facing our society," and "We will communicate with various stakeholders about the ministry's new vision and areas of work and gather opinions from all sectors to reach social consensus."

Kim also announced plans to pursue the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's national agenda, including △strengthening income criteria for welfare benefits for single-parent families △improving the child support enforcement system △expanding childcare support and introducing a qualification management system △providing tailored support for out-of-home youth based on crisis types △strengthening protection and support systems for victims of five major types of violence: power-based and digital sexual crimes, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking crimes △enhancing the expertise and functions of digital sex crime victim support centers and Sunflower Centers.

As Kim effectively raised the idea of abolishing the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the controversy over the ministry's existence became a key issue during the hearing. Previously, in a written response to a question from Yang Geum-hee of the People Power Party, Kim expressed agreement with abolishing the ministry, but in response to a question from Lee Won-young of the Democratic Party, she said, "I think it can change in a direction that performs policies more efficiently."

Opposition lawmakers, including those from the Democratic Party, criticized, "It is nonsense to appoint a ministerial nominee while saying the ministry should be abolished, and the nominee is not qualified to be a minister." On the other hand, ruling party lawmakers said, "Although it is formally abolition, it is moving toward maximizing functions, and under the current circumstances, the nominee should be appointed, and how to reorganize should be decided by the National Assembly."

During the hearing, issues were raised such as Kim's mother in her 80s being registered as the representative of a paper company, her husband's holding of unlisted stocks, controversy over remarks on gender-responsive budgeting, and suspicions of interference in the surgical process of the late farmer Baek Nam-gi. There were also criticisms that Kim's submission of materials and responses were inadequate.

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