South Korea's 'Oppa' Controversy: Politician's Remarks Spark Debate on Sexism in Politics

The recent controversy surrounding Democratic Party leader Jeong Cheong-rae's use of the term 'oppa' in public political discourse has ignited a necessary, albeit uncomfortable, conversation about ingrained sexism in South Korean politics. While some may dismiss these instances as mere slips of the tongue or 'hashtag censorship,' as detractors have labeled it, the repeated nature of Jeong's remarks, coupled with historical context, reveals a deeper issue.

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Jeong representative's 'oppa' remarks, which were not impulsive but revealed the sexist perception inherent in politics, are a scene that reveals the sexist perception inherent in politics.

As reported by the Hankyoreh, Jeong's public address to a child, urging them to say 'oppa,' and past instances of him encouraging supporters to chant 'Jeong Cheong-rae oppa fighting,' are not isolated incidents. They echo a pattern of treating women not as equal political actors but as figures within a familial, private sphere. This framing reduces women to subordinate roles, a dynamic that scholars and activists have been critiquing for decades. The term 'oppa' itself, when used outside of its familial context in public life, carries connotations of intimacy and dependency that are inappropriate for political engagement.

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The students wrote, 'Becoming an older brother-younger sister relationship made me realize not as human beings but as male-female,' and 'The moment the other person, such as a senior, becomes an older brother, I have to become a younger sister, and through the title, I have to fit myself into a weak and submissive role.'

This debate is particularly poignant given the current political climate in South Korea. There's a palpable sense that gender equality agendas are being sidelined, with parties seemingly hesitant to champion women's rights for fear of alienating voters. The Democratic Party, in particular, has been criticized for scaling back its women's policies. This environment arguably emboldens figures like Jeong to use language that would have been more readily challenged in the past. It’s a stark reminder that progress on gender equality is not linear and requires constant vigilance, even within parties that historically championed such causes.

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The atmosphere of not talking about women's rights and gender equality issues in politics recently, because 'votes are falling,' has continued, and especially in the Democratic Party, women's policies have been reduced.

From our perspective at the Hankyoreh, this isn't just about one politician's word choice. It's about the subconscious biases that shape political interactions and the broader societal norms that allow them to persist. Western media might focus on the 'scandal' aspect, but for us, it's a critical moment to examine the very foundations of political discourse and demand a more equitable and respectful engagement with all citizens, regardless of gender. The continued use of such terms in public spaces reflects a political consciousness that needs urgent re-evaluation.

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A politician telling a voter citizen to call them 'oppa' in a public space like an election rally shows where the gender awareness level of Korean politicians is.