Jang Hye-young: Standing with the most vulnerable
Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- National Assembly member Jang Hye-young's book "Equal Ordinary" chronicles her journey toward establishing an anti-discrimination law.
- The book details her personal experiences and advocacy for marginalized groups, including people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and refugees.
- Jang emphasizes the importance of acting from the perspective of the most vulnerable and believes in the power of ordinary people to create change.
National Assembly member Jang Hye-young has consistently stood with the vulnerable, advocating for those with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, refugees, and victims of disasters. Her book, "Equal Ordinary," details her journey toward establishing an anti-discrimination law, choosing to share her personal life rather than simply explaining the law's importance. This narrative is a testament to her continuous ๊ณ ๋ฏผ (gomin - ๊ณ ๋ฏผ), study, and action.
I wanted to live as a hesitant feminist, but...
Jang's advocacy began with her decision to support her sibling with developmental disabilities in leaving institutional care. While this initial action brought about small changes, it did not extend broadly across society. Her political path then led her to engage with other marginalized groups. Despite initially wanting to be a "hesitant feminist," she found herself at the forefront, speaking out in solidarity with victims. She also dedicated herself to understanding the discrimination faced by transgender individuals, resolving to "dedicate her life" to the cause.
I decided to bury my bones here.
Across these diverse issues, Jang maintains a consistent approach: viewing situations and acting from the perspective of the most vulnerable. This principle, inherent to her role as a progressive lawmaker, is deeply intertwined with her life experiences. She intentionally revisits painful memories, from being bullied in school to experiencing sexual harassment in the National Assembly, all in pursuit of creating further change. Ultimately, Jang's story is a message to ordinary people, whom she believes in, urging them to live together in an "equal ordinary" way.
Looking at the situation from the perspective of the most vulnerable person and acting accordingly.
Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.