Using ‘oppa’ on the campaign trail isn’t a gaffe — it’s textbook sexism in Korean politics

The controversy surrounding Democratic Party leader Jung Chung-rae's use of "oppa" on the campaign trail is a stark illustration of the persistent sexism that plagues Korean politics. For years, publications like the Hankyoreh have highlighted how seemingly innocuous terms, when used in a political context, reveal a deeper, patriarchal mindset. The use of "oppa," a term of endearment typically reserved for close male relatives or romantic interests, by a politician seeking public support is not merely a linguistic misstep; it signifies a fundamental disrespect for women as equal political subjects. It reduces them to a subservient role, expecting them to perform a feminine deference to a male authority figure. This incident is particularly galling given the ongoing struggles for gender equality in South Korea. While Western media might dismiss this as a minor gaffe, for many Koreans, especially women, it represents a tangible manifestation of the systemic biases that hinder genuine political progress. The fact that Jung has a history of such behavior, including past protests against female political quotas, only amplifies the criticism. It underscores a political climate where discussions on women's rights are often avoided for fear of alienating voters, leading to the rollback of crucial gender equality policies. This is not just about one politician's poor choice of words; it's about the cultural and political norms that allow such behavior to persist, and the urgent need for a more equitable political landscape.

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Rep. Jung has a history of asking women to cheer for him, asking them to call him ‘Chung-rae oppa’ at a campaign rally for the 2025 presidential election. Going further back to 2012, he protested the decision by the leadership of the then Democratic United Party for its 15% quota for female nominations, mentioning the real names of female politicians planning to run and describing their increased participation as taking away from the share of their male counterparts