Jinju City in South Gyeongsang Province has withdrawn its subsidy for the lecture "Gender Equality for All," which was part of the 2025 Gender Equality Fund support projects.
This lecture, hosted by the Jinju Women's Minwoo Association and co-organized by the Institute for Women's Studies and the Department of Sociology at Gyeongsang National University, the Center for Gender, Region, and Future at the Institute for Social Science, and Dandi News, is scheduled to be held at Gyeongsang National University from August 29 to September 27.
The lecture will cover 10 topics from a feminist perspective: Feminism with Disease, Feminism with Queer, Feminism with Environment, Feminism with Media, Feminism with Art, Feminism with Popular Culture, Feminism with Science, Feminism with Labor and Law, Feminism with Men, and Feminism with Everyone.
After news of the lecture spread, Jinju City received a flood of civil complaints demanding the cancellation of the subsidy, questioning the appropriateness of supporting a lecture with the Gender Equality Fund that they claimed did not align with the concept of gender equality.
The complainants argued that the term "gender" in "gender equality" refers to social gender, not biological sex, and asserted that it is a concept entirely different from gender equality, as it includes the institutionalization of various gender identities beyond male and female, such as a third gender.
Concerns were also raised that the lecture, being conducted from a feminist perspective, could instill a biased viewpoint among participants.
A post supporting the lecture "Gender Equality for All" posted on the bulletin board of Jinju City Hall website, Gyeongnam. Screenshot from Jinju City Hall website.
The bulletin board on the city’s website was also flooded with hundreds of posts both supporting and opposing the subsidy for the lecture, leading to heated debate.
Supporters argued, "There are not enough lectures on feminism, so this lecture must be held," "Gender equality is just one of many forms of equality," "How long will we take it for granted to only recognize binary genders, influenced by misguided hate ideologies?" and "We hope the value of gender equality, including for sexual minorities, will be recognized," expressing support for the subsidy.
A post opposing the lecture "Gender Equality for All" posted on the bulletin board of Jinju City Hall website, Gyeongnam. Screenshot from Jinju City Hall website
Opponents countered, "If it were truly about gender equality for all, it should of course be implemented, but all the lecture topics are focused on feminism," "Gender equality is not correct; gender equity is the right concept. Do not confuse children," and "Teaching that inherent biological sex can be changed by ideology will only undermine efforts to address low birth rates."
The Jinju City Gender Equality Committee, which was reviewing the lecture, concluded that the program did not align with the purpose of the Gender Equality Fund support project, such as promoting a culture of gender equity.
As a result, the organizers were asked to revise the program content, but since they did not comply, the city decided to reclaim the subsidy of 4 million won.
It has been reported that the Jinju Women's Minwoo Association plans to proceed with the lecture as originally scheduled.
An official from the city explained, "We determined that the direction of the lecture does not fit the intent of projects funded by the Gender Equality Fund," and added, "If the program is revised to fit the purpose of the project, we will consider supporting it again."
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