Yoon-Lee, Smallest Margin in Constitutional History...Politics: "2030 Female Cohesion is the Cause"
Self-Reflection on 'Young Male Strategy' within People Power Party...Possibility of Reconsidering 'Ministry of Gender Equality Abolition'
Experts: "20s Women Naturally Oppose 'Young Male-Young Female Separation Strategy'"
Yoon Suk-yeol: "Never Divided by Gender or Sex, No Reason to Do So"
On the afternoon of the 10th, citizens at Seoul Station are watching news related to President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] As President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol narrowly defeated Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party candidate, by the smallest margin in constitutional history, voices of self-reflection have emerged within the People Power Party, claiming that the so-called 'I-Dae-Nam (men in their 20s)' strategy caused them to lose women's support. Predictions are also being made that there will be a reconsideration of the 'anti-women' pledges, such as the abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (MOGEF), which had received much criticism from women.
The vote difference between Yoon and Lee was only 247,077 votes, the smallest margin in 25 years. Analysts suggest that Lee, who lost women's support early in the election due to controversies such as 'defending a nephew in a dating murder case' and 'insulting his sister-in-law,' narrowed the gap by attracting women's votes toward the end of the campaign. It is evaluated that strategic voting by some women to block Yoon, who proposed anti-women pledges, and the inclusion of activist Park Ji-hyun, known for exposing the digital sexual violence case (Nth Room), in the Democratic Party's election committee were causes of this phenomenon.
In political circles, attention is focused on the consolidation of women in their 20s and 30s at the end of the election. Former Roh Moo-hyun Foundation director Yoo Si-min said on June 10 during KBS's presidential election vote count broadcast, "For the first time in modern political history, women in their 20s and 30s have emerged as a voter group that could influence the outcome of the presidential election," adding, "(The voting behavior of women in their 20s and 30s) is only the beginning. I want to express my respect."
Former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon also cited the failure to secure support from women in their 20s as one of the reasons Yoon was elected by a narrow margin. On SBS's vote count broadcast, he said, "(Among Yoon's supporters) many women in their 20s dropped out. On International Women's Day, proposing the abolition of MOGEF and cutting the gender equality budget to buy THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) must have felt like a real threat," adding, "Even among men in their 20s, only a minority shouted anti-feminism, but there was a misjudgment. Continuously mentioning the abolition of MOGEF seems like Yoon was campaigning against his own election, which is regrettable."
Voices of reflection are also emerging within the People Power Party. Yoon Hee-seok, spokesperson, said in an interview with TBS radio's 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory,' "We must acknowledge that, as a result, the gender conflict aspect between I-Dae-Nam and I-Dae-Nyeo (women in their 20s) was made more prominent," adding, "Although that was not our original intention, we recognize that we need to be considerate of any sense of alienation or exclusive feelings that young women might have felt."
Regarding this, Professor Shin Yul of Myongji University's Department of Political Science and Diplomacy analyzed, "Assuming the inference from the exit poll results?that women in their 20s and 30s consolidated their votes for Lee?is correct, this can be seen as a phenomenon caused by backlash against Yoon rather than affection for Lee," adding, "It is not a phenomenon based on ideological preference. Women in their 20s inevitably react against the strategy that separates I-Dae-Nam and I-Dae-Nyeo."
On the afternoon of the 9th, the voting day for the 20th presidential election, voters were waiting to vote at Dobong 2-dong Polling Station No. 2, installed at Dalgeurak Shared Kitchen in Dobong-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
In particular, there is speculation that the direction of the 'abolition of MOGEF' pledge, which received heavy criticism from women, will also change. Since the 'I-Dae-Nam strategy,' which showed anti-feminist tendencies, is considered a failure, they have no choice but to listen to women's sentiments. Kim Jae-won, a Supreme Council member, said on MBC radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' program, "I think there was a lack of effort to approach women in their 20s and 30s more softly. This is a part of our election strategy that needs to be reviewed," and regarding the reconsideration of the MOGEF abolition pledge, he said, "There will be many discussions."
Women's organizations are also demanding the withdrawal of the 'abolition of MOGEF' pledge based on the consolidation of women in their 20s and 30s. The Korean Women's Associations United issued a statement on the 10th, saying, "'The pledge to introduce a false accusation clause in the Act on the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes' and 'abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family' stem not only from a misunderstanding of structural discrimination but also reinforce and tolerate discrimination and violence against women and minorities, making them dangerous policies," emphasizing that they must be abolished.
At the same time, the Women's Associations United urged President-elect Yoon, saying, "Despite the strong public opinion for regime change, Yoon and the People Power Party should fully understand the meaning of the public sentiment that elected the 20th president by a very narrow margin of less than 1%," and "They must deeply reflect on the strong consolidation of women in their 20s and 30s at the end of the election to prevent setbacks in gender equality policies."
Meanwhile, President-elect Yoon claimed that he never employed a so-called 'gender divide' strategy during the election. When asked at the National Assembly Library auditorium after his victory greeting whether the analysis that the 'gender divide' strategy was a key factor in the close race with Lee was accurate, he replied, "I have never divided people by gender or sex."
He continued, "However, regarding issues of gender equality, rather than collective equality or parity, since our laws and systems are already established to some extent, I have consistently believed that it is important for the state to take an interest in and strongly protect and respond to individual unfair cases."
President-elect Yoon added, "There was no such thing as gender division, so please do not misunderstand. On the contrary, I have thought that doing so is the way to protect women more safely and strongly," adding, "Although I was misunderstood and attacked in that way during the election process, what reason would there be to divide people by gender?"
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