Self-Denial and Self-Contradiction... Lawmakers Also Puzzled by Minister of Gender Equality Kim Hyun-sook's Hearing

Abolishing the Ministry of Gender Equality but Saying "Review Needed" for Transfer to Other Ministries
Opposition Lawmakers Criticize as "Empty Talk"
Called for Strengthening Ministry Functions During Their Tenure

Kim Hyun-sook, nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, attended the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly on the 11th and responded to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

‘Self-denial’ and ‘self-contradiction.’ These were the key words summarizing the confirmation hearing for Kim Hyun-sook, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, which began at 10 a.m. on the 11th and ended at 1:20 a.m. on the 12th. Although the main topic of the hearing was the abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (MOGEF), drawing significant attention from women’s groups and the public, Kim’s contradictory answers continued throughout.

Regarding the Yoon Seok-yeol administration’s pledge to abolish MOGEF, she said, "I believe that instead of transferring all the tasks of MOGEF to other ministries, we need to integrate, organize, and unify them while creating a control tower." This essentially implied a reorganization after abolition. She cited the reasons for abolishing MOGEF as "insufficient resolution of gender conflicts and a lukewarm response to power-based sexual crimes." On the causes of gender conflicts, she stated, "They stem from economic issues, lack of jobs, and the frustration young people feel due to soaring housing prices and a shrinking economic pie."

Regarding responses to power-based sexual crimes, she said, "There needs to be a ‘hotline’ under the minister to which local government heads can report sexual crimes. We will make every effort to prevent secondary victimization." However, when asked about the bill (proposed by Kwon Seong-dong, leader of the People Power Party) to transfer MOGEF’s women’s rights duties to the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, she gave a different answer, saying, "Further review is necessary."

Ruling party lawmakers also tilted their heads in confusion, while opposition lawmakers criticized her. When Lee Won-taek, a Democratic Party lawmaker, asked, "What is the relationship between gender conflicts and MOGEF?" Kim replied, "The perception of gender equality issues differs between the older generation and the MZ generation." Lee said, "The nominee’s thoughts are in the clouds." Kwon In-sook, from the same party, said, "She only talks about the need for a new paradigm for MOGEF, which is just grasping at straws. The nominee wants to do something, but since the president wants to abolish it, she is stuck in a bind. Structural gender discrimination does exist, but if she acknowledges it, it seems she feels she shouldn’t."

When Kim served as a member of the Gender Equality and Family Committee in the 19th National Assembly, she had called for strengthening MOGEF’s functions. When Hong Jeong-min, a Democratic Party lawmaker, asked, "Was MOGEF’s existence and role right then but wrong now?" Kim answered, "I never said I would weaken its functions." Some in the Gender Equality and Family Committee said, "We understand that Kim is not truly seeking abolition but rather aiming for expansion and reorganization." The confirmation hearing report on Kim Hyun-sook was not adopted.

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