Opposition, Government's Announcement to Abolish Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Raises Concerns Over Reduced Family, Youth, and Gender Equality Efforts

"Even If It's a Presidential Pledge, It Should Be Boldly Abandoned If It's a Wrong Pledge"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] Regarding the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's decision on the 6th to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and transfer its main functions under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the opposition parties expressed concerns about a 'regression in gender equality policies.'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the same day, members of the Democratic Party belonging to the National Assembly's Gender Equality and Family Committee and Yong Hye-in of the Basic Income Party issued a statement opposing the abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family by the Yoon Seok-yeol administration.

In the statement, they pointed out, "It is obvious that the family, youth, and gender equality tasks carried out by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family will shrink," and "We are seriously concerned about the regression of gender equality policies due to the absence of a control tower for women's policies."

According to the government reorganization plan announced that day, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family will be abolished, and its main functions will be transferred to the newly established 'Population, Family, and Gender Equality Headquarters' under the Ministry of Health and Welfare. If the amendment passes the National Assembly and is implemented, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, which was established in 2001 under the Kim Dae-jung administration as the 'Ministry of Women,' will disappear from the government organization after 21 years.

Opposition members of the Gender Equality and Family Committee believe that even if the functions of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family are transferred to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, a reduction in existing tasks is inevitable.

They said, "As Minister Kim Hyun-sook of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family also stated, the ministry collaborates extensively with other ministries," and questioned, "Can gender equality tasks, which were difficult to carry out even in a ministry led by a minister who is a member of the State Council, be led by a vice-minister-level headquarters?"

In particular, in a situation where sexual crimes against women continue unabated, they explained that it is not the time to lower the organizational status of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family but rather to empower and strengthen its unique functions and roles.

They emphasized, "There is a mountain of work to be done for family policies without blind spots and for the protection and support of youth," and added, "Even if it is an election pledge, if it is a wrong pledge, it should be boldly abandoned."

They continued, "Is there nothing learned from the presidential office's relocation to Yongsan? Stubbornly sticking to wrong pledges is also wrong," and urged, "The government and ruling party should immediately stop pushing for the abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and prepare measures to strengthen the ministry's authority and functions for the practical realization of gender equality."