Kim Hyun-sook, who gave divided answers on the 'Abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family,'... Hearing suspended after 70 minutes

The Ruling Party Submitted a Response Saying "Agree to Abolishment"
The Opposition Party Said "It Could Change to a More Efficient Policy Implementation Direction"
Poor Response to Data Submission Request Due to "Refusal to Provide Personal Information"

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

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Kim Hyun-sook, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, faced intense criticism from opposition lawmakers for giving conflicting answers about the abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (MOGEF) depending on whether the questioner was from the ruling or opposition party.

At the confirmation hearing held on the 11th by the National Assembly's Gender Equality and Family Committee, Yang Yi-won-young, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, pointed out, "In response to questions from the ruling People Power Party lawmakers, the nominee agreed with abolishing MOGEF and mentioned efforts to present a new paradigm for the new ministry, but there was no such statement when responding to opposition lawmakers who opposed the abolition."

Earlier, Kim had stated in a written response to People Power Party lawmaker Yang Geum-hee that she agreed with abolishing MOGEF, but in response to Yang Yi-won-young from the Democratic Party, she said, "I think it could change in a direction that efficiently carries out policies."

Opposition lawmakers criticized the contradiction of a ministerial nominee who agrees with abolishing MOGEF appearing at the confirmation hearing.

Kwon In-sook, a Democratic Party lawmaker, said, "It is nonsense that someone who agrees with abolishing MOGEF wants to become its minister and is sitting here. The nominee fundamentally lacks the qualifications for the minister position. Do People Power Party lawmakers who proposed the abolition bill have any justification to conduct this hearing?"

The ruling party responded by citing insufficient response to power-related sexual crimes as a reason for agreeing to abolish MOGEF and insisted that policy verification is necessary.

Kim Jeong-jae from the People Power Party said, "MOGEF was the 'Ruling Party's Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.' It turned a blind eye to power-related sexual crimes, called victims 'complainants,' and referred to it as a 'national gender-sensitivity learning opportunity.' We need to abolish MOGEF, which kneels before power, and create a place to think about how to solve issues from women, family, and youth to population problems," he criticized.

The hearing was suspended 1 hour and 10 minutes after it began due to poor response to document submission by nominee Kim. Opposition Democratic Party lawmakers requested a recess, saying questions were impossible as they did not consent to providing the nominee's personal information.

Lawmaker Kwon said, "The nominee was announced on April 11, but a month was spent in disputes over document submission. Although many requested documents overlapped, the submission rate was very low. Excluding missing or unclarified documents, it was only 45.5%," she said.

Yoo Jeong-joo, a Democratic Party lawmaker, pointed out, "There was refusal to consent to personal information in various documents, and after repeated protests, only a few were answered. It took a very long time to receive corrected documents. When we requested school records including academic changes, only the names of graduated schools were listed and submitted," she said.

Hong Jeong-min, a Democratic Party lawmaker, said, "65% of the responses received by Democratic Party gender committee members from other ministries stated that document submission was impossible due to refusal to consent to personal information. The nominee did not submit thesis materials, and when the media raised issues, only thesis titles were provided. It seems the nominee believes there is no need for verification as she came to wrap up MOGEF's final days," she criticized.

Jang Kyung-tae, a Democratic Party lawmaker, criticized, "The nominee did not submit documents related to asset accumulation process, drunk driving history, criminal record checks, preferential military service for children, or employment-related materials citing privacy protection, and even refused to submit her own manuscript fees or lecture fees. If she lacks the qualifications and morality to respond to such document requests, she should voluntarily resign," he said.

The ruling party raised the issue of the large number of document submission requests. Kim Mi-ae from the People Power Party claimed, "During former Minister Lee Jeong-ok's term in 2019, 839 documents were submitted; Minister Jeong Young-ae submitted 677; but nominee Kim Hyun-sook submitted 1,430. The submission rates were 88.2% for Lee Jeong-ok, 73.3% for Jeong Young-ae, and 75.8% for nominee Kim," she argued.

Some lawmakers blamed the poor response on MOGEF rather than the nominee. Lee Yang-su from the People Power Party said, "The hearing preparation team was probably composed mainly of MOGEF staff for document submission, and they need to be aware. They should sincerely submit documents after consulting with the nominee. It is regrettable that they have not shaken off their complacency despite the change in administration," he pointed out.

Committee Chair Song Ok-joo also inquired with the MOGEF confirmation hearing TF team about the reasons for poor document submission. Kim Jung-yeol, head of MOGEF's Planning Office, replied, "When document requests come in, they are reported to the nominee, prepared by the relevant department, then reported again to the nominee before submission."

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