Lee Jun-seok's "Why me?" response to demands for a stance on the 'Ansan hate attack' draws criticism from citizens and political circles

Ansan 'Hate Attack' Questioned... Lee Jun-seok "No Interest in Community"
Ruling Party "Lee Jun-seok, Clearly State Your Position on 'Feminist Attacks'"
Jang Hye-young Criticizes "Foreign Media Coverage but Talking About Community"
Women's Groups "Political Sphere Distorts Feminism as 'Misandry' and Feeds on Misogyny"

Female national archery team member An San (left), Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Amid controversy over hate attacks by some male-dominated communities against An San, the national archery representative at the Tokyo Olympics, voices of criticism are pouring in from the political sphere and civic groups toward Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party.

Lee, who has long advocated for measures such as gender quotas for nominations and the abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (MOGEF), claiming "there is no unreasonable discrimination against women," is being urged to take a responsible stance. In response, Lee stated, "People are asking me to make a statement, but I haven't made any remarks, so why should I pay attention to community sites?" However, criticism labeling this as a "pitiful evasion" is flooding in.

Baek Hye-ryun, Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized the indiscriminate online attacks against An San at the Supreme Council meeting on the 30th, calling it a "national embarrassment," and urged, "I hope Lee Jun-seok, who politically exploited gender conflicts and advocated for the abolition of MOGEF, along with the People Power Party’s presidential candidates, clearly state their position on the 'feminist attacks' against An San."

Supreme Council Member Baek said, "'Short hair means feminist,' 'women’s universities mean feminists'?absurd claims demanding the verification of An San’s ideology and the stripping of her medals are even emerging," adding, "The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, MOGEF, the Korean Sports & Olympic Committee, and the Archery Association should actively step in to protect the athlete. The Democratic Party will also do its best."

Ansan is hugging the coach after winning the women's individual archery round of 16 at the Tokyo Olympics held at Yumenoshima Park Archery Field in Japan on the 30th.
Photo by Yonhap News

Justice Party lawmaker Jang Hye-young also on the 29th requested, "I ask Lee, who has spread the theory that there is no gender discrimination against women in their 20s and 30s, to responsibly call for an end to the excessive attacks such as 'cancel her medals' using An San’s short haircut as a pretext, as the leader of the main opposition party, who won a gold medal at the Olympics through her own ability and brought honor to the nation."

When Lee responded, "I haven’t made any remarks, so why should I pay attention to community sites?" Jang pointed out again, "This is not something to brush off. Are you, as party leader, drawing a line saying gender discrimination experienced by women is 'not the People Power Party’s issue'?"

Jang continued, "The excessive and obsessive gender-discriminatory criticism of An San’s short haircut has even been reported by foreign media such as the BBC and Reuters, so I don’t understand why you suddenly mention community sites," and added, "Do you check the news on the community sites you mentioned?"

She further said, "If the opposition leader has no awareness of the reality where excessive political symbolism is attached to everyday elements, women are driven into a corner, and the public discourse space is being devastated repeatedly, that would be a serious problem," and pointed out, "Especially if many citizens feel that Lee’s political momentum is not unrelated to such public opinion manipulation."

Criticism toward Lee also came from women’s organizations.

On the 30th, 29 women’s organizations including the Korean Women’s Political Network issued a statement titled "Who Created a Korean Society That Demands Feminists to Return Their Gold Medals?" saying, "(Male-dominated online communities) distort the definition of feminism as 'misandry,' oppress using short hair, and engage in 'gender discrimination harassment,'" and pointed out, "This is the result of politics exploiting and society accepting men blaming and attacking feminism as a tool for their own consolation and amusement in some online spaces."

The groups especially emphasized, "Politicians like Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, have only focused on the voting behavior of men in their 20s revealed in the April by-election polls, and have continuously made anti-feminist remarks, shaking gender equality policies and disrupting public discourse," and stressed, "Politics that parasitize on hatred toward women and minority groups to maintain vested interests must stop, and there must be a proper response to this situation."