Prosecutor general in hot seat

By Lee Hyo-sik

The nation’s top prosecutor has caused a stir after making sexist remarks toward female prosecutors, drawing strong criticism from women’s rights groups.

In a lecture given to law school students at Seoul National University, Tuesday, Prosecutor General Kim Joon-gyu said, “Male prosecutors devote themselves 100 percent to work, regardless of what happens at home, while female prosecutors leave work unfinished to go home when their children are ill.”

Kim took issue with female prosecutors’ work ethics.

“I am not saying that (female prosecutors) do not work. But in some extreme cases, their work attitude is different (from that of male prosecutors). From the man’s point of view, we can say there is a problem (with female prosecutors’ work ethics),” Kim said.

He then said women account for about 30 percent of prosecutors. “About 50 percent of newly-recruited prosecutors in recent years are women. As far as I know, male prosecutors put top priority on climbing the career ladder and achieving social recognition. In contrast, female prosecutors primarily pursue happiness,” Kim said

According to the Supreme Public Prosecutors’ Office, there are 418 female prosecutors nationwide accounting for 22 percent of the total 1,871. There is only one female senior prosecutor among 42 at the Supreme Public Prosecutors’ Office.

Women’s rights advocacy groups blasted Kim’s remarks, calling them sexist and outdated.

“As a working mom, I am so disappointed at the prosecutor in general for making such senseless remarks. I do not know whether his remarks about female prosecutors going home to care for sick children are intended to tell them to quit their jobs and stay home. I hope Kim did not. But if he did, he would be in big trouble,” said Lee Kyoung-sook, secretary general of the Korean Women’s Associated United.

Lee then said Kim’s statements show how sexist and conservative many Korean men in power still are.

“His remarks go against the country’s goal to create an environment in which women can both work and raise a family. We should make more efforts to change men’s negative perceptions about working women and turn Korea into a better place for female workers,” the secretary general stressed.

김준규 워킹맘 비하 발언 일파만파

김준규 검찰총장이 "남자 검사는 집안에 무슨 일이 일어나도 집안일을 포기하고 일하는데, 여자 검사는 애가 아프다고 하면 일을 포기하고 애를 보러간다"고 여성 검사들을 비하하는 발언을 해 야당들의 융단폭격을 받는 등 파문이 확산되고 있다.

김 총장은 지난 24일 서울대 법학전문대학원에서 '글로벌 스탠더드와 형사법 제도'란 주제의 초청강연에서 이같이 말하며 "(여자 검사들이) 일을 안 한다는 건 아닌데, 극한 상황에서 (남자 검사와) 차이는 있다. 남성적인 시각에서 봤을 때 그런 문제는 있다"고 덧붙였다.

이에 여성인권 단체들은 크게 반박하고 있다. 한국여성단체연합 이경숙 사무총장은 김준규 검찰 총장의 발언은 여성 비하적이고 시대에 뒤떨진 다고 비난했다.