Kim Haeng, Minister of Gender Equality and Family Nominee, "I Will Exit Dramatically"

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Kim Haeng, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, stated that she would "exit dramatically" and maintain the policy to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (MOGEF).

On the morning of the 14th, Kim, while arriving at the personnel hearing preparation office set up at the Korea Youth Activity Promotion Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, told reporters, "President Yoon Seok-yeol pledged during the presidential election to abolish MOGEF," affirming her stance.

When asked if this meant a swift abolition, she replied, "Not exactly. This is tied to the political schedule," adding, "It means to implement policies efficiently and for our MOGEF officials to exit happily, making the best use of their capabilities."

Kim said, "I will support all MOGEF employees to actively work in departments where they can better demonstrate their abilities and where their work is more relevant."

Regarding her agreement with the 'abolition of MOGEF' argument, she stated, "Simone de Beauvoir said, 'All discrimination begins with differentiation.' I think distinguishing by gender is a meaningless debate," and added, "While the spirit at the time of MOGEF’s establishment should be respected, it is much more desirable for policy efficiency that its functions be integrated into departments that can provide more proactive public services."

On the 14th, Kim Haeng, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, is answering reporters' questions as she arrives at her campaign office in Chungjeongno, Seoul. Photo by Heo Younghan younghan@

She denied rumors of a close relationship with First Lady Kim Geon-hee. Kim said, "I was a student in the 1970s, and the First Lady was born in the 1970s, so I don’t understand how we could be connected," and added, "I was a reporter for JoongAng Ilbo 20 years ago, a spokesperson for presidential candidate Chung Mong-joon, and an adjunct professor in the Department of Political and Social Studies at Cheongju University."

She continued, "Those who create fake news cause social harm, but it is truly inappropriate for fake news to be spread and for political party lawmakers to launch political attacks," and said, "It would be more plausible to claim a close relationship with my daughter, who was born in 1983."

Regarding President Yoon Seok-yeol’s statement during his presidential campaign that "there is no structural gender discrimination," Kim said, "When we were young, and during my tenure as head of the Gender Equality Promotion Agency (February 2014 to November 2015), structural gender discrimination definitely existed."

She added, "Structural gender discrimination still exists today," explaining, "In some fields, men are discriminated against, and in others, women are. If you look at it that way, it becomes a gender conflict."

On the Ministry’s responsibility for the Jamboree fiasco, she said, "There is probably no one among the public who was not disappointed," and added, "Not only MOGEF but also 12 other agencies will be audited by the Board of Audit and Inspection, and we will fend off political attacks regarding unclear responsibility."

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