[Yoon Seok-yeol Elected] Korean Women's Associations United "Must Abandon Promise to Abolish Ministry of Gender Equality and Family"

Yeoyeon "The Last-Minute Mobilization of Women in Their 20s and 30s Holds Deep Significance"
Calls for Establishment of Gender Equality Departments in All Ministries and a Presidential Gender Equality Committee

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Korean Women's Associations United demanded on the 10th that President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol withdraw his campaign pledge to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, stating, "Face structural gender discrimination and fulfill your responsibility to realize gender equality."

In a statement released that day, the Women's Associations United pointed out, "During the election period, the People Power Party and the president-elect actively used the regressive and fictitious frame of 'gender conflict' in their election campaign rather than presenting policy visions that allow women and minorities to live equal lives, disappointing many citizens."

The organization emphasized, "We must deeply reflect on the significance of the 2030 women citizens who, having chosen the third political bloc in the last local elections to show their desire and will for new politics, strongly united at the end of the election to prevent the regression of gender equality policies."

The Women's Associations United stated, "Women live in an insecure reality where they are excluded from the public sphere and face discrimination in hiring, placement, promotion, and wages, or experience gender-based violence," and "We strongly demand that the next government establish a national philosophy based on democracy and gender equality values and actively work to eliminate structural discrimination."

Regarding President-elect Yoon's campaign pledges to introduce a false accusation clause in the Sexual Violence Crime Punishment Act and to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the Women's Associations United criticized, "These are dangerous policies that stem not only from a misunderstanding of structural discrimination but also reinforce and tolerate discrimination and violence against women and minorities, and must be abolished."

The organization added, "We must move toward a society that does not shift the national care crisis onto families and women but guarantees everyone's right to care for and be cared for by each other," emphasizing that "'Raising the minimum wage' and 'reducing working hours' are essential systems to reduce the gender wage gap and achieve a major transition to a care-centered society."

The Women's Associations United argued, "The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family should strengthen its functions, establish gender equality policy departments in all ministries, and install a control tower with real authority (the Presidential Commission on Gender Equality (provisional name)) to fundamentally and systematically resolve gender discrimination and violence that occur complexly in various areas."