Moms can change politics: ex-lawmaker

By Choi Ha-young

Jang Ha-na, a former lawmaker who co-heads Political Mamas, speaks at a press conference, July 12. / Yonhap

Jang Ha-na, a former lawmaker of the Minjoo Party of Korea ― the predecessor of the now-ruling Democratic Party of Korea ― gave birth in February 2015 while she was at the National Assembly.

This experience led her to a new life chapter. She is now seeking solidarity among mothers to spur positive changes in politics.

Last month, Jang established a civic group “Political Mamas” along with 40 other mothers. Their goal is simple: Making the nation share the childcare burden.

“Mothers are like ghosts,” Jang, the mother of daughter Doo-ri, told The Korea Times. “Social movements, including youth, women’s and labor movements have not given attention to mothers’ narratives, even if they fall under youth, women and workers. They are the disadvantaged in Korean society, but nobody thinks so.”

In the Assembly, she actively advocated for youth, animals, the environment, as well as workers and customers hit by unethical business management. After becoming a mother, however, she learned that she’s also a victim of a system which lacks worker welfare and exploits workers.

“It was the largest and most sudden change in my life,” she said. “Before having a baby, I was not fully aware of the discrimination against women. After becoming a mother, (I realized) mothers are rapidly expelled from society in a very violent way.”

She cited the percentages of mothers taking maternity leave ― 75 percent of public servants take leave, while 35 percent of those from private firms do so. Only 1.9 percent of irregular workers take it, which means most of them are virtually fired or forced to quit their jobs.

During the presidential election in May, candidates competitively came up with measures to increase the birthrate. The nation’s rate was 1.17 in 2016. However, their pledges rarely attracted mothers. “A candidate said three-years of maternity leave, but reality shows it’s never easy to take leave for just one year. It’s a choice between one pie in the sky and three pies in the sky.”

This is why Jang is focusing on discrimination against mothers in the workplace. “The birthrate will never rebound without fundamental eradication of unfair dismissals and the career discontinuation of mothers. Thorough labor supervision is a priority.”

In a press conference on June 21, Catholic University professor Mark Ancliff, who is living here with his Korean wife, pointed to the collapse of the family. South Korea’s fierce competition to enter university is a factor that dismantles the community, along with rampant overtime. “That’s why we are speaking against privileged schools to recover the family community which is necessary to protect kids.”

In the long term, Political Mamas aims to be a meaningful pressure group bridging mothers and politics. “Women received the right to vote thanks to the Suffragettes. Beyond the ballots, now it’s time make mothers’ voices heard through direct democracy.”