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🇰🇷 South Korea /Culture & Society

Gender Equality Sidelined in South Korean Elections, Critics Say

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Context piece
  • Critics argue that gender equality issues have been sidelined in South Korea's local elections, with women being treated as secondary figures.
  • The focus of women's policy proposals by major parties remains narrow, centering on childbirth and childcare, failing to address broader gender equality concerns.
  • Campaign practices have also drawn criticism for objectifying women and perpetuating outdated gender norms, including problematic remarks and the use of female campaigners for visual appeal.

South Korea's recent local elections have faced sharp criticism for sidelining gender equality agendas and reducing women to mere props in political campaigns. The Korean Women's Political Network expressed deep concern that the elections, dominated by major parties, saw the disappearance of gender equality issues and a disregard for democratic values, highlighting the neglect of political representation and rights for women, who constitute half the electorate.

Women are equal citizens who constitute the community and democracy, not just subjects or means of care.

— Korean Women's Political NetworkCritiquing the narrow focus of women's policy proposals.

The network pointed to the limited scope of women's policy proposals from candidates, which predominantly focused on childbirth and childcare. They argued that women are not merely subjects of care or tools for such roles but equal citizens integral to society and democracy. The major parties, according to the critique, continue to confine women to traditional roles related to childbirth and caregiving, failing to offer substantial policies and institutional reforms for a gender-equal society.

Furthermore, campaign activities during the election period have been condemned for their insensitivity to gender issues. Examples cited include remarks like "Oppa" (a term implying familiarity and often used by younger women to older men) made by Democratic Party leader Chung Sye-kyun and candidate Ha Jung-woo, and a campaign event where female campaigners were made to dance in short shorts. The criticism extends to the objectification of campaign workers, whose labor was reduced to visual entertainment rather than policy dissemination, reflecting lingering sexism in politics.

The reality where campaign workers' labor is consumed as visual entertainment rather than policy delivery shows the sexist perceptions remaining in politics.

— Korean Women's Political NetworkCondemning the objectification of female campaigners.

The network also criticized the perfunctory implementation of mandatory quotas for female candidates. In some constituencies, women were allegedly nominated hastily alongside male candidates simply to meet the quota, with the female candidates later withdrawing. This practice, despite legal requirements to strive for at least 30% female representation, distorts voter choice by using candidates as mere means to fulfill formal requirements. The organization urged citizens to make informed choices for a politics that embraces gender equality, human rights, diversity, and sustainability, rather than one that instrumentalizes women and minorities.

This is no different from using female candidates as a means to satisfy formal requirements. It distorts voter choice by registering candidates who have no intention of completing their term.

— Korean Women's Political NetworkCriticizing the practice of fulfilling female candidate quotas superficially.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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