Women’s Union: "Assemblyman Kwon Seong-dong and Minister Kim Hyun-sook of the Ministry of Gender Equality are 'Obstacles to Gender Equality'"

The 38th Korea Women's Conference Held
Presentations on 'Stepping Stones and Obstacles to Gender Equality'

The Korean Women's Associations United (KWAU) held the 38th Korean Women's Conference on March 4th at Seoul Plaza in celebration of International Women's Day on March 8th, announcing the recipients of this year's 'Obstacles to Gender Equality,' 'Stepping Stones to Gender Equality,' and 'Women's Movement Awards.'

This year's 'Obstacles to Gender Equality' included Kwon Seong-dong, a member of the People Power Party, and Kim Hyun-sook, Minister of Gender Equality and Family. KWAU explained the reasons for their selection, stating, "In May last year, Representative Kwon proposed a government organization law amendment bill that deleted only the provisions related to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family without any plan to transfer its responsibilities, and halted the Ministry's gender equality cultural project 'Butter Knife Crew' with a single phone call, claiming it was biased toward feminism."

They continued, "Minister Kim neglected and abandoned her role as the highest authority responsible for the national gender equality policy implementation system," and "distorted facts by calling the government reorganization plan, which aimed to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, a 'strengthening of authority.'" Furthermore, regarding Minister Kim's remarks on the Inha University sexual violence case and the Sindang Station stalking murder case, where she said "this is not violence against women," KWAU criticized this as "ignorance and irresponsibility toward gender discrimination."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In addition, other obstacles to gender equality included Dongnamwon Saemaeul Credit Union, which received disciplinary action from the Ministry of Employment and Labor for workplace harassment but has not shown remorse to the victims; the Criminal Division 9 of Incheon District Court, which ruled that repeated calls do not constitute stalking if unanswered; Seoul Metro, which decided to exclude female workers from on-duty shifts after a stalking murder case; and POSCO, which concealed workplace sexual harassment.

Among central administrative agencies, the Ministry of Education, which removed terms such as 'sexual minorities,' 'gender equality,' and 'reproduction' from the 2022 revised curriculum, effectively erasing the existence of sexual minorities, and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, which delayed the introduction of abortion-inducing drugs, were dishonored as 'Obstacles to Gender Equality.'

The 'Stepping Stones to Gender Equality' included the 122 plaintiffs and legal representatives who secured a Supreme Court ruling recognizing the state's responsibility for the issue of 'comfort women' in U.S. military base towns, the Sangnok CC branch of the Korean Women Workers' Union that expanded labor rights for caddy special employment workers, the legal team of the Joint Countermeasures Committee on the sexual violence case against a female naval officer by a superior, and the Cheongju Feminist Network 'Gyaene.'

The 'Women's Movement Award' was given to the Paris Baguette branch of the National Chemical, Textile, and Food Industry Workers' Union. KWAU highly praised the Paris Baguette branch for publicizing the anti-human rights and anti-labor issues of Paris Baguette despite SPC Group's union discrimination and withdrawal threats. KWAU stated, "It is significant that, despite being a minority union under unfavorable conditions, they brought SPC to the negotiating table and reached an agreement equivalent to a collective agreement."

The 'Special Award' was posthumously awarded to Pastor Im Bo-ra. The late Pastor Im received this award for her efforts in supporting victims of sexual violence within the church and establishing measures to prevent recurrence while participating in anti-sexual violence and anti-discrimination law campaigns.

First held in 1985 by 14 women's organizations including the Women's Peace Association, and organized by the Korean Women's Associations United since 1987, the Korean Women's Conference is held annually around International Women's Day.