Yoon Hee-sook: "Is Moon Jae-in's Feminism Saying It's Okay to Be a Woman Even If Lacking Ability?"

Minister of Science and ICT nominee Im Hye-sook is attending the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly on the 4th, responding to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] Yoon Heesook, a member of the People Power Party, directly criticized the ruling party's adoption of the personnel hearing report for Lim Hyesook, the Ministry of Science and ICT minister nominee, whom the opposition judged as 'unqualified,' saying, "Is Moon Jae-in-style feminism about not finding capable women, but accepting women regardless of their lack of ability and qualifications?"

On the 14th, Yoon wrote on her Facebook, "If the candidate you painstakingly found is unqualified, you should naturally find a better candidate again. Therefore, the true gender equality policy is to be recognized as 'Because we worked hard to find such an excellent person and broke the glass ceiling, the female quota system is a good system,'" she said.

She strongly criticized, "This government, which does not even understand what is wrong with saying 'Since it is hard to find female candidates, let's just appoint them even if they fall short of the people's standards,' only shouts feminism but is nothing more than a conservative macho group with no real belief or pursuit."

She continued, "The public can clearly see it, but they act as if the ministerial position is their petty cash, saying 'It's bothersome to look further, so here, take the women,'" and sarcastically added, "Do they think women will hear that and say, 'Yes, since we are lacking anyway, we would be grateful if you give it to us'?"

She wrote, "No political group in history, East or West, has ever polluted the term gender equality like this."

She also advised, "The president's promise of a 30% female quota should be kept by diligently finding women whose abilities have been undervalued in the long-standing male-centered social structure."

Yoon sharply criticized, "The Blue House and ruling party's remarks of 'It's hard to find, so just appoint to fill 30%' not only greatly regress gender equality in our country but also pour fuel on the already intensified gender conflicts among people in their 20s."

She pointed out, "Among the younger generation, women are no longer inferior to men in academics, employment ability, or work performance, nor are they objects of benevolent consideration," adding, "Young people are more likely to feel that the existence of corrective discrimination policies is reverse discrimination rather than empathizing with their rationale."

She emphasized, "In a rapidly developed country like ours, life experiences and sensitivities to policies differ by generation. Therefore, much more delicate and flexible policies that maintain the core are needed regarding gender equality."

She added, "For that, sincerity is essential," and criticized, "It is difficult to expect sincerity from a government that only shouts feminism in words but uses it to divide ministerial posts among their cliques regardless of ability, but pouring fuel on conflicts with ignorance and laziness is too much."

On the evening of the 13th, the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee held a plenary meeting and adopted the personnel hearing report for Lim Hyesook, the Ministry of Science and ICT minister nominee, whom the opposition judged as 'unqualified.'

Earlier, on the 10th, President Moon said about nominee Lim, "The most important way to increase talent in the science and technology field is for more women to enter the science and technology sector," adding, "For women to advance, they need the dream or role model of a successful woman. With that in mind, we nominated a female candidate."

Regarding this, Lee Eunju, floor spokesperson for the Justice Party, pointed out, "Nominee Lim's inappropriate conduct as a public official is the problem," and said, "Forcing the appointment of a minister nominee with clear disqualifications ridicules the spirit of the female quota system, which stands on the principles of fairness and balance."