[2020 Women’s Forum] "Fewer COVID-19 Deaths in Countries Led by Female Leaders"

Jeong Chunsuk, Chair of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee / Lee Jungok, Minister of Gender Equality and Family / Park Yongman, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Congratulatory Remarks

Upgrading Gender Diversity in the Industrialization Era
We Must First Eliminate Discriminatory and Unfair Institutional Systems

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Jeong Chunsuk, Chairperson of the National Assembly's Women and Family Committee, stated in her congratulatory speech at the '2020 Asia Women Leaders Forum' held on the 28th, "Amid the changes in the technology-based society called the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) demands greater and more significant changes in our lives," adding, "On this occasion, we must highlight women's leadership that actively responds to community changes and seek ways to lead women as key economic actors."

Chairperson Jeong said, "Analyzing COVID-19 death statistics shows that countries led by female leaders have fewer deaths compared to those led by male leaders, drawing attention to the unique capabilities, pragmatic approaches, and humanitarian aspects of female leadership," but also noted, "The majority of women are facing difficulties in the job market, and unemployment rates are rising further due to COVID-19."

Following her, Lee Jung-ok, Minister of Gender Equality and Family, who gave a congratulatory speech, said, "The mentor-mentee relationship is one of mutual learning and mutual growth," adding, "Because there is cooperation and synergy on another level, I am very excited." Minister Lee stated, "I believe companies are central to encouraging male parental leave and fostering work-life balance changes," and added, "Regarding new growth engines, the traditional top-down approach clearly has growth limits, so it is a time to bring about qualitative change." She further said, "It is time to take a step beyond the compressed growth model of the industrialization era and bring about qualitative change, and the protagonists of that change are women and gender diversity."

Park Yong-man, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, sent a video congratulatory message, saying, "It is fundamentally wrong to design policies that consider women while leaving the uncomfortable working environment for women unchanged or to force women to receive special consideration," and pointed out, "Furthermore, society as a whole should reflect on whether its systems and processes are making discrimination and inequality more conspicuous." Chairman Park added, "Before society offers consideration, if there are systems and processes that are the root causes of discrimination and unfairness, I think the order should be to change them scientifically and progressively."