Minister Vacancy, Weakened Ministry of Gender Equality and Family... Ruling Party Encouraging 'Abolition of the Ministry'

Resignation Accepted Without Successor Found
'Standby Mode' Until April General Election
Concerns Over 'Abolition Process' Even Internally

Former Minister of Gender Equality and Family Kim Hyun-sook ended her ministerial duties on the 21st, and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (MOGEF) is now operating under an acting vice minister system. Given the ministry's small size and the possibility of organizational restructuring being raised again ahead of the general elections, concerns are emerging that the government might be weakening the ministry's influence.

According to MOGEF on the 22nd, Shin Young-sook, the acting vice minister who will perform the ministerial duties, stated the previous day, "Work will proceed smoothly as usual," adding, "Especially key tasks related to people's livelihoods, such as support for single-parent families, childcare, and at-risk youth, will be carried out without any gaps through close communication with related agencies."

However, when the minister is absent, there is a high possibility of losing influence in inter-ministerial consultations and various meetings. In particular, MOGEF is a ministry that handles welfare for vulnerable groups such as women, youth, and single-parent families, making collaboration with related departments crucial. Previously, after Minister Kim expressed her intention to resign in September last year amid the controversy over the '2023 Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree' disruption, Kim Haeng, a former emergency committee member of the People Power Party, was nominated as a minister candidate but failed to pass the confirmation hearing, leaving the position vacant. Subsequently, with the second cabinet reshuffle, Minister Kim's resignation was accepted after six months.

Some interpret the current vice minister system as a preparation for the abolition of the ministry and its transition to a new department after the April general elections. For organizational restructuring, a 'government organization reorganization bill' that includes the abolition of ministries must be passed by the National Assembly, but this is practically impossible while the opposition Democratic Party holds the majority. The ruling party interprets that the possibility of passage may arise if the number of seats in the National Assembly changes after the general elections. On the previous day, Kwon Seong-dong, a member of the People Power Party, said on Facebook, "This government's action confirms the will to abolish MOGEF as a presidential campaign pledge," adding, "When the 22nd National Assembly convenes, I will resubmit the same bill (government organization reorganization bill) to keep my promise to the people."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Former Minister Kim also consistently emphasized the abolition of the ministry during her tenure. In her 2022 inaugural speech, she mentioned 'departmental transition,' and at the farewell ceremony held at the Government Seoul Office the previous day, she reiterated, "My conviction that MOGEF should play a more practical role through organizational restructuring remains unchanged."

In particular, the ruling party recently proposed the establishment of a 'Population Department' at the deputy prime minister level as a campaign pledge, suggesting plans to absorb and integrate some of MOGEF's functions. Han Dong-hoon, an emergency committee member of the People Power Party, expressed his intention last month during the announcement of low birthrate policies, stating, "Policies such as childcare services from MOGEF, which was pledged to be abolished by the Ministry of Employment and Labor or the Ministry of Health and Welfare, will be carried out by the newly established Population Department." Former Minister Kim also supported the establishment of a population department.

Inside MOGEF, a sense of helplessness continues. A MOGEF official said, "It has been a long time since messages about the ministry's abolition have come out, so it is no longer surprising," adding, "As the minister's farewell speech also showed the will to abolish the ministry, the transition to the vice minister system seems to be a process of taking steps toward abolition, which is disheartening."