"Shindang Station Murder Confirmed as Misogynistic Crime"...Controversy Over Minister of Gender Equality's Remarks

Women's Groups 'Furious' at Minister Kim Hyun-sook's Remarks
Backlash from Political Circles and Various Sectors
"Clear 'Gender Violence'... The State Conceals the Core Issue"

On the 17th, the women's group 'Bulkkot Femin Action' held an emergency memorial service in front of Exit 10 of Sindang Station in Jung-gu, Seoul, urging the government to acknowledge and apologize for the structural violence behind the death of a female worker and to take measures. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Juri] Minister of Gender Equality and Family Kim Hyun-sook stated that the Sindang Station stalking murder case is "not seen as a misogynistic crime," sparking backlash from various sectors.

On the 17th, the women's group 'Bulkkot Feminist Action' held an emergency memorial ceremony in front of Exit 10 of Sindang Station in Jung-gu, Seoul, urging the government to "acknowledge and apologize for the structural violence behind the death of a female worker" and called for countermeasures.

Wearing black clothes, they gathered at Sindang Station holding signs that read "The state killed her" and white chrysanthemums, continuing with a statement and open remarks.

The group stated, "If the case of a female worker exposed to illegal filming and stalking crimes at her workplace being murdered during work is not a misogynistic crime, then what is it?" and insisted, "The state must broaden its understanding of structural violence and take measures to prevent recurrence."

Han Mi-kyung, an activist from the National Women's Solidarity, said, "Although this is clearly a misogynistic incident, the state is obscuring the essence of the problem," and questioned, "In this situation, can the President, the Minister of Gender Equality and Family, the prosecution and police, and the employer Seoul Metro come up with a proper solution?"

Criticism from young female politicians also followed. Park Ji-hyun, former Emergency Committee Chairperson of the Democratic Party, who visited the victim's memorial space, labeled the incident as a "misogynistic murder case" and demanded, "Minister Kim Hyun-sook should apologize for her statement denying it as a misogynistic crime."

Justice Party lawmaker Jang Hye-young also posted on Facebook on the 16th, emphasizing that this case is 'gender-based violence.'

Lawmaker Jang pointed out, "So far, the political sphere has enacted various laws to prevent and punish gender-based crimes, but has repeatedly failed to protect victims," adding, "The Inha University sexual violence death case, the second Nth Room case, and now the Sindang Station murder case are evidence of the ongoing horrific crimes targeting women."

Minister Kim Hyun-sook of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, who visited Sindang Station, responded to the question "Do you see this incident as a misogynistic crime?" by saying, "I do not see it that way," and added, "I do not agree with viewing it through a dual frame of men and women." Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Minister Kim, who visited Sindang Station on the 16th to pay respects to the deceased, responded to the question, "Do you see this case as a misogynistic crime?" by saying, "I do not see it that way," and added, "I do not agree with viewing it through a dual frame of men and women."

She emphasized, "This is a stalking murder case, so the law must be strictly enforced, and we need to devise measures on how victims can be protected in such situations."

She also promised, "In consultation with the National Assembly's Gender Equality and Family Committee, we will quickly pass the Stalking Victim Support Act submitted today to ensure that such incidents never happen again."

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