[Exclusive] Ministry of Gender Equality and Family's Work Plan Shows Little Change from Last Year to This Year

More than half of last year's and this year's work plans are similar
Except for 2, existing plans are extended or expanded
Some plans have identical wording, only the order changed

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, which omitted this year's business promotion plan report, is understood to have devised a business plan similar to last year's earlier this year. Following last year's 'World Jamboree fiasco' and a five-month ministerial vacancy, it appears unable to present major policy plans.

On the 1st, Asia Economy obtained the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family's '2024 Major Business Promotion Plan' through the office of Kim Han-gyu, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, and compared it with last year's announced business promotion plan. It was found that most of the promotion plan contents were the same or similar. Among the approximately 70 detailed plans announced this year, more than half were similar to those of the previous year.

[Source: Screenshot from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family website]

More than half of the business plans are 'similar policies'

Except for the 'Measures to discover and support isolated and reclusive youth' and the 'Advance payment system for child support' planned for the first half of this year, the Ministry planned to continue and develop policies planned last year. In particular, the advance payment system for child support was an extension of last year's 'Sanctions against non-custodial parents' child support debt default' and 'Strengthening support for parenting and independence of adolescent (single) parents.'

Additionally, 'Expansion of independence support allowance for out-of-home youth and expansion of independence support officers (2023)' was changed to 'Extension of payment period and expansion of recipients for independence support allowance for out-of-home youth (2024),' and 'Strengthening monitoring of harmful digital media and blocking deletion through cooperation in self-regulation (2023)' was rephrased and reordered as 'Strengthening inspection and measures against illegal and harmful online information and cooperation in self-regulation (2024).'

'Expansion of childcare support hours and recipients (2023)' was changed to 'Expansion of childcare support households (2024),' with the target number adjusted from 85,000 households to 110,000 households. The Ministry's initiative to 'Expand family-friendly certified companies and designate top companies (2023)' also continued as 'Expansion of top family-friendly companies (2024).'

This is interpreted as being related to the Ministry's ongoing ministerial vacancy crisis. After former Minister Kim Hyun-sook took responsibility for the disruption of the World Jamboree event in August last year and tendered her resignation in September of the same year, there has been no minister capable of actively leading policies. The ministerial vacancy has continued to this day since the resignation in February this year.

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol reiterated his pledge to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, stating, "Isn't it time for the ministry to fulfill its historical mission?" Meanwhile, on the 14th, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family at the Government Seoul Office, facing a crossroads regarding its existence, is stirring unrest amid a restless atmosphere. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Omitted only this year? Business plans that never saw the light of day

According to the data, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family created this year's major business promotion plan in February. However, at that time, the Ministry did not announce the business plan nor distribute a press release. On February 8th, the Ministry announced at a regular briefing that it would brief the business plan, but five days later, it notified that the briefing was postponed. Since then, no briefing has been held, and no written materials have been distributed.

Currently, the 'business report' materials posted on the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family's website are only available up to last year. Materials published under the titles 'business report' and 'business plan' have been posted since 2010, all released between the end of the previous year or early in the relevant year (January to March).

Assemblyman Kim Han-gyu said, "It has become clear that the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is being run weakly without a minister," and added, "It is urgent to appoint a minister who has a deep understanding of the Ministry and can provide specific directions."

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