Controversy Over "Marriage as a Cure for Cancer" by Welfare Minister Nominee, Explains "Concerned About Low Birthrate"

2012 Maeil Shinmun Column Claims 'Childbirth is a Way of Patriotism'

Health and Welfare Minister nominee Jeong Ho-young is attending a press conference on the afternoon of the 10th at Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, where the Presidential Transition Committee announced the selection of minister nominees for eight ministries of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, answering reporters' questions. Photo by Transition Committee Press Photographers Group

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] Jeong Ho-young, the nominee for the first Minister of Health and Welfare under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, has become embroiled in controversy after it was revealed that he wrote a column in the past claiming that marriage and childbirth are acts of patriotism, seemingly blaming women for the low birthrate. On the 11th, Jeong explained, "It was a piece I wrote out of concern for the low birthrate phenomenon when I was a surgical professor."

In the column titled "The Path of Patriotism," which Jeong contributed to the Maeil Shinmun on October 29, 2012, while serving as a surgical professor at Kyungpook National University Hospital, he argued, "There has never been a time when patriotism was as easy as it is now," and stated that "'marriage' and 'childbirth' are the ways" to do so. He added, "Just by getting married, one can immediately become a prospective patriot, and if it leads to childbirth, one finally joins the ranks of patriots."

Jeong expressed concern over South Korea's low birthrate and pointed to women's marriage rates as the cause. He said, "Only 1 out of 10 women in their 20s has gotten married," and added, "A more depressing story is that the 'lifetime single rate,' which is the proportion of women who have never married by age 50, is about to reach 15% and is expected to rise to 20%."

He further argued that "the special remedy for cancer treatment is marriage" as a basis for encouraging marriage. Citing a Norwegian research team's findings, he stated, "The risk of death from cancer is 35% higher for single men compared to married men, and 22% higher for single women compared to married women." At the end of the column, he concluded, "Now is the time for the entire nation to step forward as matchmakers. That is patriotism."

Kang Sun-woo, a member of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized Jeong's column. Kang said, "The idea that marriage and childbirth are patriotism and that marriage is a special remedy for cancer treatment is shockingly absurd," and added, "As a nominee for the Minister of Health and Welfare, he should reflect on his past remarks and apologize to the public."

As the controversy grew, Jeong clarified through the Ministry of Health and Welfare, "The column was one of various opinions I expressed over 10 years ago as a surgical professor out of concern for the low birthrate phenomenon." He stated, "If appointed as Minister of Health and Welfare, I will prepare population policies through comprehensive consideration and review of low birthrate and aging issues."