Won Min-kyung Prioritizes Elevating Ministry to 'Gender Equality and Family Ministry'... "Strengthening Through Expansion and Reorganization"

Won Min-kyung Emphasizes Expansion and Reinforcement of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family
Vows to Strengthen Policy Coordination and Support for Vulnerable Groups

"The top priority is to expand and reorganize the ministry into the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, thereby strengthening its overall coordination and governance functions for gender equality policies, and elevating its status and policy capacity to become a more powerful ministry."

On August 18, Won Min-kyung, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, made these remarks as she arrived at her personnel hearing preparation office at the Korea Youth Activity Promotion Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul.

On her first day commuting to the office, Won was asked by reporters about the most urgent issue the ministry must address. She responded, "During the previous administration, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family was weakened due to discussions about its possible abolition. I believe the ministry's stability and its expansion and reinforcement as the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family are the most pressing matters."

She added, "I will establish a robust support system to address issues such as dating violence, digital sexual violence, and prostitution, as well as to promote women's participation in economic activities, eliminate gender discrimination in the labor market, and support vulnerable families and youth in crisis." She continued, "To achieve this, I will cooperate with relevant ministries and communicate closely with the field and civil society."

Yonhap News

Won is recognized as a legal expert in women's rights who has primarily worked in the field of women's and family law. Born in Seoul in 1972, she graduated from Jungang Girls' High School and Yonsei University with a degree in law. She passed the 40th National Bar Exam in 1998 and completed the 30th class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute in 2001.

She has served as Chair of the Women's Rights Committee of Lawyers for a Democratic Society (Minbyun), an advisory board member at the Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center, and Chair of the board at the women's rights center "Boda." She is currently a board member of Korea Women's Hotline and a non-standing commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea.

Following the 12·3 Martial Law incident, when the National Human Rights Commission passed an agenda item calling for the protection of former President Yoon Suk-yeol's right to defense in his impeachment trial, Won held an emergency press conference demanding its withdrawal.

If Won is appointed after her confirmation hearing, she is expected to become the first Minister of Gender Equality and Family under the Lee Jae-myung administration.

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