Gangnam Station Incident's Shadow Looms Large: Gender Violence Persists as Law Fails to Recognize Misogyny

Ten years after the shocking Gangnam Station murder, a crime that sent ripples of outrage and solidarity through South Korean society, the echoes of that tragedy continue to resonate. A recent forum, convened by Hankyoreh and the Feminist Action Network, brought together individuals deeply affected by gender-based violence to reflect on the past decade. The grim reality is that despite the widespread mourning and activism that followed the 2016 incident, the fundamental issues remain unresolved. The recent murder of a high school student in Gwangju serves as a stark, painful reminder that women's safety is still precarious, whether on the streets, in schools, or at home.

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Seeing the news of the high school student murdered in Gwangju made me think of the Gangnam Station incident and realize that nothing has changed.

The statistics are sobering: women continue to be disproportionately represented as victims of violent crimes, with their share hovering around 80% in recent years. This persistent vulnerability underscores a systemic failure to address the root causes of gender-based violence. While government initiatives have been announced in the wake of such incidents, participants in the forum argued that these measures are often reactive and superficial, failing to tackle the underlying societal attitudes and discriminatory structures that enable such violence. The lack of legal recognition for 'misogynistic crime' as a distinct category, despite repeated calls from women's groups, remains a significant hurdle.

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The hateful way they seek solutions from weaker beings when the cause lies within themselves is so similar in both incidents. The government's neglect is ultimately what enables these crimes.

From our perspective at Hankyoreh, the continued prevalence of gender-based violence is not merely a series of isolated incidents but a symptom of deeply entrenched societal sexism. The discussions at the forum revealed a shared frustration that despite the Me Too movement, the Nth Room digital sex crime scandal, and growing awareness of stalking, meaningful progress in eradicating gender-based violence has been slow. The participants, many of whom identify with the 'Gangnam Station generation,' expressed a sense of déjà vu, seeing the same patterns of violence and societal neglect repeating themselves. This is a uniquely Korean tragedy, where societal progress in some areas is starkly contrasted by the stagnation in addressing gender inequality and violence.

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The Gwangju incident once again reminds us that violence against women can occur anywhere women are present.

The forum also touched upon the backlash against feminism, which has intensified even as awareness of gender issues has grown. This 'white backlash' complicates efforts to enact meaningful change. The participants stressed that true safety cannot be achieved through mere physical security measures like CCTV or emergency bells. Instead, it requires a fundamental shift in the perpetrator's mindset and a societal recognition of the systemic discrimination women face. The struggle for gender equality and safety in South Korea is ongoing, and the lessons from Gangnam Station must not be forgotten, lest future generations face similar tragedies.

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Gender-based violence occurs within families and in accommodations. Simply installing emergency bells in restrooms or more CCTV cameras does not ensure safety. What's crucial is changing the perpetrator's perception, and the lack of fundamental measures for that is the problem.