Welfare Ministry Taking Over Ministry of Gender Equality Policies?... Kim Han-gyu "Preparing for Integration?"

Change of Main Ministry for High-Risk Pregnant Women from Ministry of Gender Equality to Ministry of Health and Welfare
Vice Minister Shin Young-sook: "Tasks Will Be Handled According to Functions"

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the main government agency responsible for women and youth in crisis, was supposed to oversee certain policies, but these are currently being carried out by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, leading to speculation that the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is preparing to be 'incorporated into the Ministry of Health and Welfare.'

At the National Assembly Gender Equality and Family Committee's audit held on the 30th, Kim Han-gyu, a senior member of the Democratic Party of Korea, confirmed with Vice Minister Shin Young-sook that the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is the main agency responsible for youth and women in crisis, then asked, "What about pregnant women in crisis?" Vice Minister Shin replied, "The Ministry of Health and Welfare is handling the related work for pregnant women in crisis."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Rep. Kim pointed out that documents related to strengthening support measures for pregnant women in crisis were originally drafted with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family as the main body, suggesting that the ministry's jurisdiction is being taken over by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The document titled "Measures to Strengthen Support for Pregnant Women in Crisis and Single-Parent Families," prepared last year, lists a total of 49 tasks, of which 33 fall under the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family's jurisdiction. Tasks such as operating 24-hour counseling for pregnant women in crisis and easing admission requirements for single-parent family facilities for pregnant women in crisis were proposed as responsibilities of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. In August last year, during the Health and Welfare Committee's legislative subcommittee, Lee Ki-il, the first vice minister of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, mentioned, "There are already related facilities under the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and the ministry plans to operate centers for pregnant women in crisis 24 hours a day by region, so rather than the Ministry of Health and Welfare operating a separate system, we will utilize those facilities."

Rep. Kim emphasized, "However, these policies are included in the Ministry of Health and Welfare's pamphlets," adding, "Isn't the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family's work being taken over by the Ministry of Health and Welfare? It is unclear whether this situation arose because there is no minister or if some functions are being transferred to effectively incorporate the ministry into the Ministry of Health and Welfare."

He also raised the possibility of a 'conflict of interest,' citing that Vice Minister Shin is married to Lee Ki-il, the first vice minister of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Vice Minister Shin responded to related inquiries by saying, "The transfer of these duties occurred before I became vice minister," and added, "I did not expect to be misunderstood due to personal relationships. I cannot say that the work was taken away; rather, each function is being adequately pursued according to its role."

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