Choi Soon-sil scandal sparks gender issues

An activist holds a poster reading "The President's gender is neither a matter of excuse, nor a matter of mockery," at a rally in Seoul calling for President Park Geun-hye's resignation over her involvement in an influence-peddling scandal, Nov. 19. / Courtesy of Feminists Committee of Labor Party

By Choi Ha-young

The unfolding scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her confidant Choi Soon-sil has ignited gender issues after sparking a flurry of sexist comments.

While criticizing the central figure in the influence-peddling scandal, seasoned politicians have made derogatory remarks toward women without acknowledging the sexist elements in their comments.

For instance, Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung, who is emerging as a dark horse for the next presidential race with a 15 percent approval rating, said, "Choi is just like a rude woman in a marketplace."

Park Jie-won, the interim leader of the People's Party, also said, "Can't imagine another female president in the next 100 years."

Some protesters have made sexist remarks that are even more insulting.

A high school student said on the podium at the Nov. 12 candlelit rally: "Childless Park is not a woman."

According to Burning Femi-Action, an online feminist group, some protesters criticized the appearance of Chung Yoo-ra, Choi's daughter who entered a prestigious university by taking advantage of Choi's close ties with President Park. A poster read: "Chung, plastic surgery monster, lose weight."

President Park has long been one of a few prominent female politicians, along with Hillary Clinton in the United States, Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar and Angela Merkel in Germany.

Discriminatory anger?

The gender of Park and Choi has spurred much gossip: Choi's Prada shoes went viral online, as did her relationship with Ko Young-tae, 20 years her junior.

People have made hay over rumors of Park receiving cosmetic treatments or having her hair styled for 90 minutes on the day of the Sewol ferry sinking. People also mocked the alias she used at a luxury anti-aging clinic — Gil Ra-im, the name of a K-drama heroine. Some internet users have said the "ignorant K-drama fan" is unqualified to lead the nation.

Women's rights groups agree that widespread anger against Park and Choi is sometimes "politically incorrect," and many points are based on the prejudice that luxury and skincare goods are preferred by women.

Further, Park apparently capitalized on her gender. Regarding the various allegations, her legal representative Yoo Young-ha said, "She is a woman before a president, so please consider her privacy."

Former presidential chief of staff Kim Ki-choon also said, "I couldn't ask Park about what she was doing during the seven hours of the ferry incident as it is rude to intrude on a female president's privacy."

"This is the worst use of gender image: men do public jobs, women do private jobs," said Kim Soo-jung, an activist from a group named Feminists Make Park Resign. "I can't forgive Park for using her female identity to conceal the tragedy of the Sewol ferry disaster."

The collapse of the country's first female president is expected to adversely affect female leaders' efforts to break through the glass ceiling in political, business and other social fields, said Nayoung, a feminist columnist from Network for Glocal Activism.

To overcome this, the media and investigations should focus on the structure of the scandal, she said. "For example, Park's alleged stem cell treatment shows the link between the medical circle and political power," she said.

Still, many activists said they dream of a female leader who can genuinely represent women.

"Park suddenly adopted a feminine image during her 2012 presidential campaign, targeting middle-aged women's votes. However, the essence of her policies came from her father's iron fist," Nayoung said.

President Park is the daughter of the dictator Park Chung-hee.

However, there's still a long way to go. "Many still believe economic growth and development require a male politicians' charismatic leadership," she said. "This environment makes it difficult for politicians to show a female identity."

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