Jung Se-kyun "Party leader, spokesperson, and presidential candidate all beg for votes through misogyny"
Gyeong Min-jeong "Please show 'Yuji', the duty towards women"
Jeon Yong-gi "The essence of low birthrate issue is anxiety about the future"
Yoon Seok-yeol, a presidential candidate who joined the People Power Party, is giving a lecture at the People Power Party's freshman study group 'Myeongbulheojeon Bosuda Season 5' held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 2nd. Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Yoon Seok-yeol, former Prosecutor General and presidential candidate of the People Power Party, has sparked controversy by making remarks implying that feminism is the cause of low birth rates.
On the 2nd, during a lecture invited by the People Power Party's freshman members' meeting "Myeongbulheojeon Conservative," held at the National Assembly, Yoon stated, "Feminism must be healthy feminism," adding, "It should not be exploited for electoral advantage or to extend political power."
He then mentioned the cause of low birth rates, saying, "I recently came across a piece that said feminism is being politically exploited to the extent that it emotionally blocks healthy relationships between men and women. From a societal perspective, the conditions for having and raising children are very unfavorable. This is not a problem that can be solved simply by providing childbirth incentives."
In response, the ruling party unleashed criticism such as "Begging for votes through misogyny" and "If you don't know, you should just stay quiet."
Former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun wrote on his social media, "Candidate Yoon is the one inciting misogyny. Hearing Yoon's claim that feminism is the cause of low birth rates and that feminism blocks healthy relationships between men and women makes me not only laugh but also feel saddened," adding, "It is an outrageous statement that is hard to believe coming from someone who claims to take responsibility for the country."
He further criticized, "The party's face, the representative, the party's spokesperson, and even the party's presidential candidate are all begging for votes through misogyny," emphasizing, "Politics of division and hatred make the people unhappy. Half of the people of the Republic of Korea are women."
Deputy Spokesperson Kyung Min-jung of Chung Sye-kyun's campaign also pointed out, "Please 'Yuji' your duties toward women," stating, "Connecting feminism with healthy relationships between men and women is even more absurd, irrelevant, and nonsensical than linking the June 10th Democratic Uprising martyr Lee Han-yeol to the Bu-Ma Uprising. It is a ridiculous statement."
Jeon Yong-gi, spokesperson for Lee Jae-myung's primary campaign, released a written comment saying, "If you don't know, you should just stay quiet. Instead of seeking media exposure, please finish your studies," adding, "The essence of the low birth rate problem is 'anxiety about the future.' It is truly deplorable that a presidential candidate, who should propose fundamental solutions, is instead engaging in such misbehavior."
Assemblyman Park Yong-jin issued a statement expressing concern over "narrow-minded thinking related to the low birth rate issue," saying, "Pointing to feminism as one of the causes of low birth rates is a shallow attitude, and dismissing criticism by saying 'I was just conveying an opinion' and practicing 'relay politics' is irresponsible. I hope this absurd avoidance politics will stop."
Additionally, Democratic Party Assemblyman Hong Young-pyo wrote on Facebook, "The claim is that feminism is politically exploited to block healthy relationships between men and women and leads to low birth rates. At this point, it is hard to see the previous controversies as mere slips of the tongue," adding, "Candidate Yoon's outdated values are revealed in various fields such as labor, human rights, and gender. It is becoming clear that he entered politics driven solely by political ambition without any vision for the country's future."
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