Seoul City Hosts '2022 Gender Equality Week Commemorative Event' for Gender Equality Week

Five Groups and Individuals Awarded the 'Seoul Gender Equality Award'... Eight Individuals Selected for 'Meritorious Service Commendation on Women's Rights Communication Day'

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] To mark Gender Equality Week, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will hold a commemorative event under the theme "A Happy Journey Where Everyone is Respected."

According to Seoul City on the 29th, the Seoul Gender Equality Award and Merit Commendation Ceremony will be held next month at Seoul City Hall. At the ceremony, Mayor Oh Se-hoon will personally present plaques and certificates to the awardees.

Now in its 19th year, the Seoul Gender Equality Award received nominations for candidates from May 13 to June 30. After a rigorous evaluation by a committee of 13 external experts, two Grand Prize winners and three Excellence Award winners were selected.

The Grand Prize was awarded to Ahn Hyo-sim, director of a domestic violence victim protection facility who has established a support system and actively supported victims of domestic violence, and to the Seocho Andante Friendly Group, which monitored elements of gender discrimination in daily life and proposed ways to advance gender equality policies.

For the first time this year, eight individuals were selected for the Women’s Rights Pass Day Merit Commendation. The final recipients include Lee Soon-ja, Vice President of the Seoul Women's Association Federation; Yoo Myung-rye, President of the Seoul Branch of the Korean Women Leaders Federation; Choi Kwang-ja, Director of the Seoul Women's Association Federation; Sung Sook-hyun, President of the Seoul Branch of the Housewives’ Group Thinking of Their Hometowns; Oh Kyung-hee, Director of the Korean Steiner Anthroposophy Center and Waldorf Lifelong Education Institute; Lee Soo-yeon, Professor in the Department of Culture and Arts at Baekseok University; On Ok, Vice President of the Seoul Women's Federation Choir; and Woo Sung-kyung, Secretary General of the Seoul Women's Association Federation.

To enhance gender sensitivity among Seoul city administrators and all employees and foster a culture of practicing gender equality in daily life, a "Gender Equality Organizational Culture Campaign" will also be conducted. Starting with Gender Equality Week, various campaigns will be held monthly through December. In September, a Gender Equality Language Dictionary Quiz and a Gender Equality Slogan Contest will be launched for all employees. In October, a performance using the selected slogans from the contest will take place. November will feature a Gender Equality Workplace Declaration Relay involving heads of departments and bureaus at grade 3 or higher, and in December, a gender sensitivity quiz competition will be held for all employees.

Additionally, Seoul City, together with the Seoul Gender Equality Activity Support Center, will conduct gender equality education for caregivers titled "Liberation through Gender Equality in Parenting" starting next month on the 1st. The program consists of three sessions (primary caregiver education, secondary caregiver education, and joint caregiver education) for 15 pairs of caregivers of infants and toddlers and 15 pairs of caregivers of lower-grade elementary students. Based on the real concerns of parents wishing to practice gender-equal parenting, this meaningful educational opportunity aims to help participants understand the value of gender-equal care and strengthen caregiving capabilities.

Furthermore, Seoul City, in collaboration with the Seoul Women and Family Foundation, has produced and distributed the "Seoul Gender Equality Press Release Checklist" to review press materials from a gender perspective and increase public awareness. In addition, various commemorative programs for Gender Equality Week are being organized by Seoul institutions such as the Seoul Women and Family Foundation and the Seoul Gender Equality Activity Support Center.

Kim Sun-soon, Director of the Seoul Women and Family Policy Office, said, "To commemorate Gender Equality Week, we have prepared various events that anyone, regardless of age or gender, can participate in and experience together," adding, "We hope this will be an opportunity for gender equality culture to spread in daily life, leading to a happy society where both men and women are respected."