Kim Hyun-sook: "President Moon claimed to be a feminist, but... women's policies have regressed"

“Gathering Opinions on the Abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family... Preparing with Care”
“Inha University Incident, Student Safety Issue... Gender Conflict Should Not Escalate”
“Glass Ceiling Exists for Our Generation of Women... Those in Their 20s Do Not Feel It That Way”

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Kim Hyun-sook, Minister of Gender Equality and Family, criticized on the 24th, "President Moon Jae-in claimed to be a feminist president, but rather regressed (in terms of women's policies)."

In an interview with Yonhap News Agency at the Government Seoul Office, Minister Kim said, "During the previous administration, the expression 'victims of power-type sexual crimes' was treated as if it caused secondary harm, and although many women’s groups participated in the government, they did not play as significant a role as expected."

Regarding the previous administration’s Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, Minister Kim pointed out, "There was absolutely no channel to listen to the voices of men in their 20s, and they only met with women. The ministry should have focused on the difficulties and discrimination experienced by both men and women in reality, but it functioned as a very ideological department."

On the proposal to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, Minister Kim stated, “It should come out after deep consideration rather than quickly. We plan to take enough time.” She added, “After the president mentioned abolition during his candidacy, there was no related discussion in the Presidential Transition Committee, and now the ministry itself is preparing a plan. Since my appointment, I have been gathering opinions from various sectors including youth, family, and women-related organizations.”

Regarding the sexual assault death incident that occurred on the Inha University campus, Minister Kim said, "This is a student safety issue, and it is absolutely undesirable to divide by gender and amplify gender conflicts." She added, "Inha University should install closed-circuit television (CCTV) on campus and strengthen student safety measures." Furthermore, she said, "The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has guided Inha University to submit measures to prevent recurrence and requested cooperation from the Korea Journalists Association to ensure sensitive media coverage does not cause secondary harm."

Minister Kim cited generational conflict and economic difficulties as causes of intensified gender conflicts. She explained, "Young men have not enjoyed patriarchal status or lived in a male-dominated society, but fixed stereotypes still exist, such as the expectation that men must provide a house when getting married." She continued, "When lecturing at universities, there were cases where male students who had completed military service could not keep up with classes." She also stated, "It is said that women are structurally discriminated against, and although there was a glass ceiling in our generation, people in their 20s do not feel that way."

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