[K-Women Talk] Ministry of Gender Equality Should Be Progressively Integrated with the Planned Deputy Prime Minister-Level Low Birthrate Department

Outdated Gender Structures Are a Major Cause of Low Birthrates
The Key Role of Overseeing and Coordinating Gender Equality Policies
Organic Integration with Care Society Policies Is Essential

Chai In-soon, Invited Professor at Paichai University

As the 22nd general election has passed, discussions about government reorganization are gaining attention. The Democratic Party of Korea proposed the Population Crisis Response Department as an election pledge, the People Power Party suggested a Population Department, and the Innovation Party proposed a Care Agency. Recently, the president mentioned the establishment of a (tentative name) Low Birthrate Response Planning Department during the 2nd anniversary press conference and subsequently referred to setting up a Low Birthrate Senior Office within the presidential office. The opposition parties have also expressed willingness to cooperate. However, none have addressed what to do with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, which has spent two awkward years under the current administration’s abolition pledge.

We are currently breaking unprecedented records of low birthrates in world history. Numerous scholars have pointed out that to properly address this issue, we must look beyond childbirth and childcare support and reconsider broader social problems. Gender issues are among the root causes. Despite rapid social changes, the failure to timely reform outdated gender structures is a major reason for low birthrates, yet the political and governmental sectors are not acknowledging this. It has been pointed out many times that South Korea has the most severe gender wage gap among OECD countries, with the female employment rate in 2022 about 17% lower than that of males, resulting in relatively lower pensions. Family care by working women is 3.5 times that of men, and the career interruption rate for women with children under six reaches 37.1%.

Young women, already aware of these realities, are choosing or seriously considering remaining single and childless. Yet, there is no governmental message addressing the problem. While it is fortunate that the establishment of a low birthrate department includes a policy emphasis on work-family balance, if this does not become a universally accessible system in a gender-equal direction, it will be difficult to win over young women who want to stand as equal economic actors with men and pursue careers. Moreover, low birthrate policies without a gender equality perspective instrumentalize motherhood, so no effective results can be expected.

Nevertheless, absurd situations occur, such as the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission investigating whether a one hundred million won lump-sum childcare support influences childbirth decisions, revising the Public Officials Appointment Decree to favor promotion for civil servants with multiple children?leading to promotion policies based on the number of children in places like Gyeongbuk Province and Gumi City?and comedic efforts like Sejong City using residents’ taxes to support meetings between men and women to create couples. This is due to a lack of leadership in gender equality policies.

What is needed now is a turnaround to solve the problem. We must acknowledge that a gender-equal and care-oriented society is a strategic direction to reverse low birthrates and organize government structures to intensively pursue this. One approach is to rename and elevate the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family as the main gender equality ministry and integrate it with the proposed deputy prime minister-level Low Birthrate Department. Like the low birthrate issue, gender equality policies require a deputy prime minister-level role to effectively oversee and coordinate across ministries.

Current general coordination is also very insufficient with the existing Women’s Policy Bureau and Gender Impact Assessment Division. These should be reorganized into a Gender Equality Policy Bureau and Gender Mainstreaming Strategy Division to encompass both women and men, and to discuss and cooperate on advancing gender equality in major national agendas such as climate change, digital transformation, science and technology, and balanced regional development.

Another axis is to promote the transition to a care society by enacting a (tentative name) Care Society Transition Promotion Act and establishing a Care Agency or Care Society Bureau to oversee fragmented projects by target groups and lead the transition to a care society where men and women, businesses, and local communities all participate in caregiving. Although it will take time, only when gender equality policies and care policies are organically combined can low birthrate measures have a chance of effectiveness. Tomorrow marks the first day of the 22nd National Assembly’s term. Constructive discussions are needed. We await the right decisions from the 22nd National Assembly.

Cha In-sun, Adjunct Professor at Paichai University