What’s next for gender ministry after Yoon’s ouster?

A Ministry of Gender Equality and Family sign at Government Complex Seoul / Korea Times file

With the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who had pledged to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, attention is shifting to the future of the ministry’s role and scope.

With the snap presidential election approaching, the ministry is expected to undergo significant changes if a new administration takes office.

Yoon's push to abolish the gender ministry was clearly reflected in the prolonged vacancy of its ministerial post.

Following intense criticism over the mishandling of the 25th World Scout Jamboree in 2023, then-Minister Kim Hyun-sook resigned. Yoon did not name a replacement and Vice Minister Shin Young-sook has served as acting minister since Kim's departure.

Many opposed the ministry's abolition and called on the government to end the prolonged leadership vacuum by appointing a new minister.

Korean Women’s Associations United issued a statement on April 4, following the Constitutional Court’s ruling to impeach Yoon, arguing that the former president consistently neglected women’s rights and gender equality during his term.

They also urged the next administration to strengthen the role and power of the gender ministry.

At the National Assembly, lawmakers from the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) raised concerns during last year’s ministry audit. They criticized the prolonged vacancy in the ministerial post and questioned how gender policy could be effectively implemented without a minister.

Even lawmakers from the People Power Party (PPP), which backed Yoon during his term, acknowledge the need to fill the vacancy.

The National Assembly’s Gender Equality and Family Committee expressed regret over having to conduct the audit without a minister in office.

Last June, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) also urged Korea to withdraw a bill to abolish the ministry, promptly appoint a minister and ensure that its core functions are preserved, regardless of any government restructuring.

Gender Equality and Family Vice Minister Shin Young-sook answers lawmakers’ questions during a full session of the Gender Equality and Family Committee at the National Assembly, Feb. 13. Yonhap

The future of the gender ministry could change depending on the outcome of the upcoming June 3 presidential election.

If a candidate from the DPK wins the presidency, the new administration is likely to reverse Yoon’s pledge to abolish the ministry, appoint a minister and restore its functions to ensure the effective implementation of gender-related policies.

However, the ministry’s fate remains uncertain, as the upcoming election could also result in the continuation of Yoon’s policy direction.

Reform Party leader Rep. Lee Jun-seok, who has declared his bid for the presidency, is expected to include restructuring the ministry among his campaign pledges. He has suggested plans to transform the ministry into a department focused primarily on labor and human rights issues.

In this case, the push to abolish the gender ministry could continue, especially with the ministerial post remaining vacant.

Meanwhile, the ministry is tasked with addressing a range of pressing issues, including the country’s low birthrate and the rise of digital sex crimes involving deepfake technology.

With Korea facing one of the world’s lowest fertility rates, the ministry’s role in shaping effective family and gender policies has become increasingly critical.

In addition, its responsibility in tackling tech-driven sex crimes, such as deepfake-related sexual abuse, has also grown in importance.

Critics argue that the ministry, which has long focused on family policies and measures to address low birthrates, has failed to take a strong stance on violence against women.

Despite expectations that it would play a leading role in tackling digital sex crimes — particularly through agencies such as the Digital Sex Crime Victim Support Center — its budget for digital sex crime prevention and response was cut by six percent this year.