"Non-consensual sex is rape"
"Democratic Party should adopt party stance to amend 'non-consent' law"
[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Former co-chair of the Democratic Party's Emergency Committee, Park Ji-hyun, criticized the fact that the introduction of the 'non-consensual rape law' was effectively scrapped due to opposition from the political circle and the Ministry of Justice, calling it a "atrocity that regresses women's rights."
On the 27th, Park posted on her Facebook under the title "If non-consensual sexual intercourse is not rape, then what is it?" expressing this view.
Former Co-Chair of the Emergency Committee of the Democratic Party, Park Ji-hyun. Photo by Yonhap News
Earlier, on the 26th, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced it would consider introducing the 'non-consensual intercourse law,' which would punish sexual intercourse without consent even in the absence of violence or threats, but withdrew the position within half a day due to opposition from the political circle and the Ministry of Justice.
She stated, "Under current law, rape requires 'violence or threats' to be established. Even if someone says no, if sexual intercourse is forced, it is not considered a crime," raising her voice, "If non-consensual sexual intercourse is not rape, then what exactly is rape?" She further pointed out, "Countless women suffer without even being able to express refusal due to the power dynamics of their superiors or because they feel actual threats."
Regarding Kwon Seong-dong, a member of the People Power Party who publicly opposed the introduction of the non-consensual rape law, she criticized, "Representative Kwon spouts absurd sophistry, claiming that the non-consensual rape law demeans adult men and women as immature beings who cannot properly express 'yes' or 'no' during sexual intercourse." She added, "Having never been in a vulnerable position in his life, and spending his entire life in the position of power, engaging in politics solely for the powerful, I am ashamed of the shallow gender awareness level of this party politician."
Furthermore, Park emphasized that the Democratic Party should adopt the revision of the non-consensual rape law as a party stance and push it forward. She said, "The Democratic Party should take the lead in legislating to clearly define rape without consent as a crime and clearly demonstrate that the Democratic Party is a gender-equal party different from the gender-discriminatory People Power Party." She concluded, "I hope the Democratic Party leads the revision of the non-consensual rape law as a party stance."
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