South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol’s Backward Step For Gender Equality
Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Photo: Kim Seung-doo/Associated Press
In alignment with his campaign promise, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has announced his push towards abolishing a Gender Equality Ministry.
The Gender Equality Ministry was created by the Korean government in an effort to promote gender equality. That includes supporting policies that advance women’s rights, youth activities and welfare, and preventing violence against women, children, youth, and other vulnerable groups.
Gender equality has been an ongoing concern, especially in a traditionally patriarchal society like South Korea. Ever since his presidential campaign, Yoon has received critcism from the politicians, activists, and the Korean public for his extreme anti-feminist agenda, and stating that structural discrimination based on gender doesn’t exist in South Korea, despite Korean women being at or near the bottom of the developed world in a host of economic and social indicators.
President Yoon argues that abolishing the Gender Equality Ministry and creating a new agency tasked with broader responsibilities will better “help women”, even though critics contend the move would set back efforts and make the gender gap even worse.
In a response to President Yoon’s conservative plans, many women’s rights groups in Korea have pledged to campaign against the government for opposing gender equality.
The prospects for abolishing the Gender Equality Ministry remain unclear, as it requires approval from the National Assembly that is controlled by liberal lawmakers.
President Yoon speaking at the Global Fund's Seventh Replenishment Conference in New York City. Photo: AFP
This is not the first time President Yoon has been in the spotlight since he took the role as President. Controversy around abolishing the Gender Equality Ministry comes just after a recent controversy with President Yoon being accused of insulting the United States Congress.
After meeting with United States President Joe Biden at the Global Fund’s Seventh Replenishment Conference in New York City, President Yoon was heard stating something along the lines of “It would be so humiliating for Biden if these idiots don’t pass it in Congress.” The video quickly went viral in the South Korean media, and many viewers have rightfully criticized Yoon for this diplomatic catastrophe. Although the South Korean Presidential Office quickly let out a statement stating that the comment was not directed at the United States Congress, the damage had already been done in the public media.
The South Korean public’s eyes continue to be on President Yoon Suk Yeol, especially with the string of controversies he seems to be involved in since he took the Presidency in May of this year. Yoon is said to have no prior experience in politics, and is seen to be pushing his conservative agenda on the country. This is a very drastic change from former liberal President Moon Jae-In, who was politically experienced and well respected in international spheres.