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| Above is a screenshot of People Power Party presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol's Jan. 7 Facebook post that reads 'abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family,' and below is a screenshot of Justice Party presidential candidate Sim Sang-jung's Jan. 7 Facebook post that reads "strengthen the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family." Screenshots from Facebook |
By Jung Da-min
Some controversial issues that could cause division and conflicts between women and men have risen again in Korean politics with less than two months left to go to the March 9 presidential election.
One such issue has come to the fore after Yoon Suk-yeol, the presidential candidate of the main opposition conservative People Power Party (PPP), pledged to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family in his Facebook post of Jan. 7.
The post where Yoon only wrote "abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family," without further explanation, went viral and drew different reactions among the political parties.
The ruling liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and its presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung have criticized Yoon for trying to cause gender conflicts and use it for his political goal of winning support from young male voters. Lee's election camp said that it would not issue any official comment on the matter to avoid getting trapped in gender politics.
The minor opposition progressive Justice Party and its presidential candidate Rep. Sim Sang-jung have also criticized Yoon, saying his move is a populist campaign strategy rather than a genuine idea to benefit the public's welfare. On the matter of whether the gender equality ministry needs to be abolished, Sim said that she would rather strengthen its role and functions to protect the rights of both women and men.
The debate surrounding the ministry is not new in Korean politics, as it has often made headlines, especially during conservative politicians' election campaigns. PPP Chairman Lee Jun-seok, a 36-year-old who gained support from young men for criticizing feminism, is among the conservative politicians who have been promoting the idea of abolishing the ministry.
In October of last year, Yoon had initially said that he would reorganize the ministry to realize the equality of men and women better. But as his support rate has been on the decline in recent weeks, he suddenly switched his stance to abolishing the ministry, which is widely seen as Yoon accepting PPP Chairman Lee's election strategy to gain support from young men in their 20s and 30s.
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| Main opposition People Power Party's presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol, left, and Chairman Lee Jun-seok answer questions from reporters after a party meeting at the National Assembly on Seoul's Yeouido area, Jan. 6. Joint Press Corps |
Political watchers said Yoon's move, regardless of whether it is desirable or not, is expected to have a certain effect in appealing to young male voters. They said that many young men these days feel deprived of equal opportunities amid the nation's deepening economic uncertainty and believe that the gender equality ministry is biased and promotes women's rights only.
Political commentator Park Chang-hwan said that young voters, who had been considered supporters of the liberal bloc, have now become swing voters. In the Seoul mayoral by-election in April of last year, Oh Se-hoon of the conservative PPP was elected as the Seoul mayor, receiving higher support especially from men in their 20s.
Nonetheless, Park said that it is yet to be seen who would win more support from young voters in this year's presidential election, as many young people have been disappointed by both the current ruling liberal bloc and the opposition bloc, as they have both failed to show fairness in dealing with scandals surrounding each bloc. The commentator said that the issue of fair opportunity matters more to people in their 20s and 30s, who find it difficult to access opportunities amid the economic downturn and worsening economic polarization.
"For Lee Jae-myung, his support rate used to be high among voters in their 20s and 30s when he was the Gyeonggi Province governor, as he had carried out many policies to support young people. However, many young people have vetoed the DPK over corruption scandals involving high-ranking figures of the party and the Moon Jae-in administration, regardless of whoever becomes the DPK candidate," Park said.
"Young voters disappointed by the ruling liberal bloc then supported Yoon of the PPP, but Yoon has also failed to win their trust, as he has also showed double standards towards corruption or illegal acts involving his family members."
In such a situation, Park said that the gender conflict issue is one that could have a big impact and be used as a political tool. The commentator said that while Yoon took a step to embrace more young male voters, the DPK and Lee would not be too worried if Lee were receiving more support from young female voters, but that is not the case.
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| Lee Jae-myung, center, the presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, attends a policy conference with startup CEOs who run businesses focusing on support for working mothers, held in Seoul's Dongjak District, Jan. 10. Joint Press Corps |
Park said that the DPK used to receive higher support from women voters, but many of them have turned their backs on the party due to a series of sexual violence scandals involving high-ranking figures of the liberal bloc, such as former South Chungcheong Province Governor An Hee-jung, former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don and former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, as well as the party's poor handling of these issues and failure to make proper apologies to the victims.
Amid this context, the DPK's Lee has made efforts to make friendly gestures to young female voters, in contrast to PPP's Yoon.
On Jan. 7, Lee had an interview with YouTube channel ".face," which deals with women's rights and feminism. Then two days later, during his meeting with young people at a cafe in Seoul's Mapo District, he said, "Feminism is also an attempt to make this world better." On Jan. 10, Lee held a policy conference with CEOs of startups whose businesses are aimed at helping working mothers, and he listened to the difficulties of women concerning career breaks or discrimination at work.
Lee also indirectly criticized Yoon for rekindling gender conflict for political goals, saying during a lecture in Incheon, Jan. 11: "Some politicians are leaning to one side to garner more votes." Lee said that he would not pick a side, because politics should not be about picking a side, but about making society better for both males and females.
From Yoon's side, he is taking additional moves to appeal more to young male voters, having announced an election pledge to develop the games industry further, Jan. 12, and then attended the opening game of an online game event, the 2022 League of Legends Champions Korea Spring, later that day.
The rival candidates of the two major parties are now in a neck-and-neck race, according to recent opinion polls.
