Kang Sun-woo tapped as gender equality minister, signaling ministry’s revival
Gender Equality Minister nominee Kang Sun-woo speaks during a special parliamentary committee session on pension reforms at the National Assembly in Seoul, April 8. Korea Times photo by Koh Young-kwon
President Lee Jae Myung has nominated Rep. Kang Sun-woo of the Democratic Party of Korea as the new minister of gender equality and family, signaling a decisive shift after more than a year of leadership vacuum and uncertainty at the ministry.
The nomination underscores the administration’s commitment to reviving the ministry, which faced potential abolition under former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Under Lee’s direction, the ministry will be renamed the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Affairs and restructured with a broader policy scope.
The reorganization fulfills one of Lee’s key campaign promises. He has stressed that gender equality policy must extend beyond women to encompass wider social equity.
“It’s not just about serving women,” Lee said during his campaign. “Rather than abolishing the ministry, we will change its name and expand its role.”
On June 18, the Presidential Policy Planning Committee reviewed key initiatives, including the expansion of the ministry, strengthening governance systems for gender equality and providing broader support for at-risk youth and single-parent families. These plans suggest that the overhaul is not merely cosmetic, but rather a strategic institutional reform.
The ministry’s budget for this year is about 1.78 trillion won ($1.3 billion). For the reorganization to succeed, legislative support and financial coordination will be essential. However, some conservative critics continue to argue for the ministry's abolition, raising concerns about whether the planned reforms will gain sufficient bipartisan support.
The ministry has been without a leader since September 2023, when Kim Hyun-sook stepped down as minister in the wake of the Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree debacle. The situation worsened after a former member of the People Power Party's interim leadership panel, Kim Haeng, withdrew as nominee, leaving Vice Minister Shin Young-sook to serve in an acting capacity while the Yoon Suk Yeol administration moved forward with its pledge to dismantle the ministry altogether. However, the change in administration has reversed that trajectory.
If confirmed through a National Assembly hearing, Kang will become the first minister to lead the reorganized ministry. Specializing in gender, family and welfare issues, Kang has previously served on the Gender Equality and Family Committee and currently holds the position of senior opposition member on the Health and Welfare Committee.
“Given her extensive experience in both gender and welfare policy, she is considered an ideal fit for the reorganized ministry,” a ministry official said. “She is renowned for her logical and meticulous approach.”
Kang is scheduled to begin her confirmation preparations later this week. According to ministry and parliamentary sources, she will report to a temporary office in central Seoul on Thursday, where a task force of around 10 members — comprising officials from the ministry and her legislative office — will assist with documentation and logistical coordination. She is expected to deliver a brief public statement upon arrival.
In a written message following her nomination, Kang pledged to lead a ministry grounded in compassion and practical support. “I hope to give the people hope for a better tomorrow, and turn that hope into confidence through policy,” she wrote. “I will dedicate myself to making this ministry one that provides gentle support for the daily lives of every citizen.”