On the Day of the Appointment of the Minister of Gender Equality, Women in Their 20s and 30s Demand "Withdraw the Pledge to Abolish the Ministry"

'Yeo Hang Sa', Press Conference in Front of the People Power Party Central Office on the 10th
Candidate Kim Hyun-sook "Difficult to Predict Timing of Ministry Reorganization"

'People protesting the pledge to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family' held a press conference on the afternoon of the 10th in front of the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, demanding the withdrawal of the pledge to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and urging the protection of women's right to survival.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Nayeon] As President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol appointed former lawmaker and policy advisor Kim Hyun-sook, a former Blue House senior official during the Park Geun-hye administration, as Minister of Gender Equality and Family, women opposing Yoon’s pledge to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family demanded the "withdrawal of the abolition."

The group "People Protesting the Abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (Yeohangsa)" held a press conference on the 10th in front of the People Power Party’s central office in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, urging, "President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol should withdraw the 'abolition pledge' of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, which was created for misogyny."

Yeohangsa, formed by women in their 20s and 30s opposing Yoon’s pledge to abolish the Ministry, stated in their press release, "Distorted information and baseless misogyny related to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family circulated through male-dominated community sites," and "This was transformed into the 'abolition pledge' by politicians’ hands."

They continued, "President-elect Yoon has not presented any specific plans on when and how to establish new ministries after abolishing the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, which ministries should take over which tasks for effectiveness and efficiency, or how to support victims arising from this process."

They also emphasized, "The pledge to abolish the Ministry was merely created as a show to gain support from men in their 20s and 30s who enjoy misogyny like a sport," adding, "President-elect Yoon, People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok, and users of male-dominated community sites should not shake the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family based on misunderstanding and baseless hatred toward women. We still need the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family."

They further added, "President-elect Yoon should withdraw the abolition pledge and bow his head to apologize to the 25 million women."

Government Seoul Government Complex Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier that day, President-elect Yoon personally announced the nomination of former lawmaker Kim Hyun-sook as the candidate for Minister of Gender Equality and Family.

Regarding the timing of the 'abolition of the Ministry,' candidate Kim Hyun-sook said, "It is difficult to predict when the ministry will be reorganized at this time," and added, "As you know, there are single-person households and very diverse types of families, so we will create a new ministry suited to the new era by communicating humbly with the public, cooperating with the opposition party, and collecting sufficient opinions to open the future."