[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Kang Min-jin, leader of the Youth Justice Party, sharply criticized the adult magazine 'Maxim' for featuring a female model in 'military uniform bikini' attire on its cover, stating, "Female soldiers who suffer from the violence of sexual objectification are real people."
On the 8th, Kang posted on her Facebook, "A young woman in the military suffered sexual violence, experienced organized secondary victimization and cover-up of the incident, and ultimately took her own life," adding, "At that time, a certain 'men's magazine' featured a model in a bikini military concept on its cover," pointing out the issue.
Recently, Maxim themed its June issue as a 'Month of National Defense and Veterans' and featured a female model wearing a military uniform bikini on the cover.
However, this planning was criticized as inappropriate, especially since it came amid revelations of sexual assault victims in the Air Force taking extreme measures, highlighting the problem of sexual violence within the military.
Kang said, "It's truly a cruel world," and explained, "The more despairing part is not just that the sexual expression itself is problematic, but that there is no room left for serious discussion on why that photo is problematic and what issues arise from sexual objectification of women in specific professions."
Kang Min-jin, leader of the Youth Justice Party, posted on her Facebook on the 8th. Photo by Kang, leader's Facebook capture.
Meanwhile, Kang criticized some politicians who incite conflict. She questioned, "While voices to protect my and others' dignity are mocked as 'feminist' and jeered as tiresome, which politicians are truly standing by those voices, interpreting the different languages of divided citizens, and properly mediating conflicts?"
She continued, "There are political forces that exploit gender conflicts under the guise of representing a generation to gain unfair advantages," raising her voice, "Lazy politicians who parroting claims commonly used in male-dominated communities, including calls for the abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and quota systems, are rampant."
Kang also expressed a sense of responsibility as a politician. She reflected, "Politicians who seek to profit from existing conflicts are rampant. But those who are truly desperate drift like refugees without politics that represent them," adding, "There is an abundance of politics trying to win youth votes, but politics that design a new world for youth are hard to find. The Justice Party also bears great responsibility."
Finally, Kang emphasized, "I think of the deaths of young people who passed away this year: the late Corporal Byun Hee-soo, the late worker Lee Seon-ho, and the late Sergeant Lee," stressing, "The most popular politicians representing youth have never mourned these individuals, but politics that truly saves countless Byun Hee-soos, Lee Seon-hos, and Sergeant Lees in this world would be genuine politics for youth."
Meanwhile, Corporal Byun, mentioned by Kang, hoped to continue service after gender reassignment surgery but was forcibly discharged and later found dead at home. Lee Seon-ho died in an accident at the Pyeongtaek container terminal, and Sergeant Lee took their own life after experiencing military sexual violence and secondary victimization.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
