Controversy Over Kim Geuntae Proportional Candidate's Remarks on "Reducing and Abolishing the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family"
People's Party: "Candidate Kim's Comments on Abolishing the Ministry Focus on Dysfunction Rather Than Positive Functions"
Party Leader Ahn Cheol-soo Announces General Election Pledge for 'Women's Safety Action Plan'
Internal Party Debate Over Differences in 'Gender Sensitivity'
Candidate Kim Clarifies Post on Party Website as Personal Opinion, Not Party Stance
Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party (left), is presenting a certificate of nomination to Kim Geun-tae, a proportional representation candidate, at the certificate awarding ceremony for proportional representation candidates of the 21st general election held at the People’s Party headquarters in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 30th of last month. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy reporters Han Seung-gon and Kim Ga-yeon] As the April 15 general election approaches, Kim Geun-tae (29), candidate number 4 on the People's Party proportional representation list, has come under criticism for a lack of 'gender sensitivity' after it was revealed that his legislative activity plan posted on the party's website included proposals such as 'downsizing and abolishing the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family' and 'strengthening punishment for false accusations.'
Amid a series of crimes violating women's rights, such as the 'Nth Room' case where women including minors were threatened to produce and distribute sexual exploitation materials, there are concerns that his conduct is inappropriate.
Gender sensitivity refers to the ability to understand and recognize elements of gender discrimination by having knowledge and awareness of gender inequality. Criticism of lacking gender sensitivity means being insensitive to gender-discriminatory elements.
On the other hand, Ahn Cheol-soo, the party leader, announced a 'Women's Safety Action Plan' as an election pledge, which includes expanding the scope of punishment for digital sex crimes to viewers, leading to views that there is a gap in 'gender sensitivity' between the party leader and the proportional representation candidate regarding women's rights pledges.
As the controversy spread, the People's Party dismissed it by saying that positions may differ depending on the issue. As the uproar grew, candidate Kim clarified on the party website that his views were personal and not the party's official stance.
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, which Kim referred to as subject to abolition and downsizing, is an administrative agency responsible for planning and coordinating women's policies, promoting women's rights and status, establishing and supporting family and multicultural family policies, and overseeing child affairs and youth development, welfare, and protection for healthy family projects.
It originated in February 1988 as the Political Affairs Office (an agency designated by the President and Prime Minister to perform specific tasks) and has continued to the present. The agency was created to eliminate overall gender discrimination in society and to promote women's human rights. It is closely related to gender sensitivity.
Candidate No. 4 on the People's Party proportional representation list, Kim Geun-tae (left), attended a video conference with Ahn Cheol-soo, the party leader, and all proportional representation candidates at the central party office on Seogang-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the 25th of last month, listening to Ahn's greeting. [Image source=Yonhap News]
In his legislative activity plan, Director Kim stated, "Radical feminism has flourished in a way that deviates from the original purpose of the gender equality movement," and added, "I aim to contribute to achieving gender peace in South Korea by systematizing public education for proper gender awareness and starting with the downsizing and abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family."
Regarding the controversy, People's Party Deputy Spokesperson Jang Ji-hoon told Asia Economy in a phone interview, "Rather than opposing the party's stance, positions may vary depending on the issue," and urged, "Please refrain from dividing people along the binary lines of women and men."
On Kim's proposals such as 'strengthening punishment for false accusations' and 'downsizing and abolishing the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family,' which sparked controversy, Deputy Spokesperson Jang said, "These issues are actually unrelated to the 'Nth Room' case," and added, "We are not presenting policies to provoke voters' sentiments but proposing bills to ensure safety and establish victim countermeasures."
Regarding the remarks on downsizing and abolishing the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, he explained, "There are pros and cons to the Ministry, with both dysfunctions and positive functions," and said, "It seems Kim focused on the dysfunctions."
He emphasized, "These remarks are about women's safety, and more broadly, human safety and measures for victims," and stressed, "This is not a pledge 'made for women to see,' but a pledge truly for victims and for humanity. Therefore, abolishing the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family does not weaken the establishment of countermeasures for the 'Nth Room' case."
He continued, "As a candidate, if elected as a member of the National Assembly, Kim will align with the party to develop pledges and policies," and urged again, "I hope people refrain from dividing voters into 'male voters for this pledge' and 'female voters for that pledge' based on Kim's pledges."
Amid the spreading controversy, candidate Kim recently stated in an interview with a media outlet, "The message I wanted to convey in the People's Party self-introduction was that society should be harmonious, and the statements in question are personal views, not party positions."
Ahn Cheol-soo, the founding preparation committee chairman of the People's Party, is giving a greeting speech at the Daegu City Party founding convention held at Gallery The You in Suseong-gu, Daegu on the afternoon of February 18. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Meanwhile, while candidate Kim expressed his personal views on downsizing and abolishing the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, People's Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo posted a lengthy message on his Twitter on the 23rd, promising to establish countermeasures against digital sex crimes for victimized women.
On that day, Ahn emphasized, "Regarding digital sex crimes including the 'Nth Room' case, regardless of left or right, progressive or conservative, ruling or opposition, we must unite and prioritize this issue in the 21st National Assembly," and highlighted that he had previously announced child and youth pledges as well as women's pledges.
Ahn's pledges include ▲Anti-stalker law ▲Anti-grooming law ▲Punishment for consumers of digital sex crimes such as the 'Nth Room' ▲Promotion of legal amendments to allow sting operations or inducement investigations to eradicate sex crimes against children and adolescents ▲Implementation of protective custody for treatment purposes for sex offenders against children and adolescents ▲Disclosure of personal information of sex offenders against children and adolescents at the level of the United States.
*If you experience difficulties due to illegal filming or distribution of photos or videos, threats using such materials, or sexual harassment in cyberspace, you can receive support from the Women's Emergency Hotline 1366 and the Digital Sex Crime Victim Support Center (02-735-8994).
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