Hong Joon-pyo keeps failing to grasp gender issue
By Kim Se-jeong
Hong Joon-pyo
Earlier this year, conservative politician Hong Joon-pyo’s recount of abetting an attempted rape as a youth sparked controversy during his presidential campaign.
Hong, who lost in the election to President Moon Jae-in, called the incident a prank and therefore no big deal, but his comments outraged female voters.
This week, many wondered if Hong, who is now chairman of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP), had learned anything from it, and further if he had any sense of gender equality or understanding of gender issues in Korea.
This week’s incident took place during a talk show on Tuesday near Hongik University in western Seoul. Titled “From machismo to femininity,” the talk show was organized by Hong’s party to reach out to female voters.
After the moderator’s presentation, Hong said, “I don’t get what gender violence is. Can you define it with examples?”
Hong’s colleague, Lew Seok-choon, the party’s reform panel chief, stole the microphone and said: “Gender violence is a thing of the past. It’s no longer true that men control women with their power.”
He also said contemporary Korea has achieved gender equality, and it’s time to discuss possible male discrimination by women.
Choi Kyung-ok, president of the Korea Woman Journalists’ Association and one of the participants of the talk show, bashed Hong immediately.
“I think the LKP has still a long way to go,” Choi said. “The numbers have clearly shown gender inequality at the workplace, compared with other OCED countries. The fact that the leader of the main opposition party doesn’t comprehend an issue like this raises a serious question about the party’s policies and other members’ approaches to the issue.”
Hong was fast to defend.
“Your comment is disappointing. It’s not just the story of the LKP. I am sure it will be the same for the ruling party. More importantly, please don’t forget that the first female president came from the LKP.”
Hong, 62, was born in South Gyeongsang Province, considered the conservative region of the country. In his memoir, he wrote about an incident in his youth when he provided his male friend with a veterinary drug with the intention to give it to a female student so he could rape her. Many women condemned him for his actions.
On many fronts, Korea is a patriarchal society.
Women are underrepresented at work. At home, women are still expected to be responsible for household chores and childcare.
Domestic violence is one lens through which people can see male dominance in Korea.
Dating violence is particularly on the rise, according to statistics, which experts explain is a result of men’s frustration in relationships where traditional male dominance isn’t as prevalent.
A Korea Institute of Criminology study published this summer stated that patriarchal attitudes are still rampant in Korean society and called for a comprehensive study on patriarchal social elements and their impact on dating violence.
More women also fall victim to random violence committed by men. Last year, a woman in Seoul was killed by a stranger in a public restroom. The police said he had believed women took jobs and opportunities meant for him.