[The Editors' Verdict] Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, launched in 2001 after a long-standing aspiration of the women's movement, has come under debate over its existence amid the presidential election campaign. The ministry has changed its name several times, from the Ministry of Women to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and back again. In 2008, the then ruling Grand National Party proposed a government organization law to abolish the ministry and transfer its responsibilities for women and childcare to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, reorganizing it as the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Women. However, due to opposition from women's groups and opposition parties, the family aspect was removed, and it remained as the Ministry of Women.

The call to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family was triggered by Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, who posted a single sentence on social media: "Abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family." Public opinion is also (from the ministry's perspective) significant. According to a survey conducted by Realmeter on behalf of YTN from the 10th to 11th, targeting 1,011 people nationwide aged 18 and over (confidence level 95%, margin of error ±3.1 percentage points), support for abolition exceeds half (51.9%). Support was higher among men, conservatives, and moderates, while opposition was stronger among women and progressives. Notably, 40% of women respondents also supported abolition.

Support for abolishing the ministry is found both inside and outside the ministry. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has been positively evaluated as the department overseeing women's policy organizations. However, it has failed to capture the voices calling for change amid the rising political, economic, and social status of women and the growing calls for gender equality.

The ministry is also weak in power. It has always been a "3-low" (low organization, low budget, low manpower) ministry. Its organization, budget, and personnel are small. Many of its duties overlap with those of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ministry of Employment and Labor, and Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

A ministry that has undergone a trajectory similar to but different from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries was established as an independent ministry in 1996, breaking away from being a single department or external agency. It was abolished after the inauguration of the Lee Myung-bak administration in 2008 but was revived under the Park Geun-hye administration. In fact, from a functional perspective within government organization, there have been questions about whether the ministry's role has been properly established. Although responsible for the shipping industry, it failed to adequately represent the voices of the shipping sector during crises involving Hanjin Shipping and Hyundai Merchant Marine, under the leadership of financial authorities, and was criticized for neglecting its duties.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family's allies are women and progressives. In contrast, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is supported by members of the National Assembly, local residents, and regional economic sectors adjacent to ports, harbors, and the sea. Their votes cannot be ignored during election seasons. Ironically, the way for the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family to survive is to build many allies among its supporters. While changing the ministry's name is important, what matters more is the voice it raises in policy formulation and implementation, especially on sensitive issues. The ministry is focusing on gender equality, children and youth, multicultural families, and particularly on protection and support for victims of sexual and domestic violence, and is considering alternatives that include terms like gender equality and youth in its name.

Government organization is an important governance tool to realize the president's national vision. It can change according to the times and circumstances. Since the government was launched, there have been a total of 61 government organization reforms as of September 2017. This frequency is excessive. Not only the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family but almost all ministries, including the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and Welfare, and Ministry of Science and ICT, are targeted for reorganization during election seasons.

During election seasons, the executive branch and bureaucrats, who should maintain stability, inevitably become unsettled. The establishment and abolition of government ministries have a profound impact not only on the government but also on economic actors, stakeholders, and the public. It is not something to be done just because "it will gain votes now." Lee Kyung-ho, Head of Social Affairs Department