Lawmakers under fire over sexist remarks
Two main opposition party lawmakers have come under growing criticism due to their sexist remarks during confirmation hearings of government official nominees.
Rep. Jeong Kab-yoon of the Liberty Korea Party (LKP) said that Jo Sungwook, the nominee for the Fair Trade Commission chief, was not “fulfilling her duty to the country of having a child” as she is a single woman.
“As far as I know, you are still single. What do you think is the biggest problem in Korea? The low birthrate is damaging the country,” Rep. Jeong said during Jo’s confirmation hearing at the National Assembly, Monday.
“You have a great resume, but if you fulfill your duty, you’ll become a fully qualified nominee. It is okay for you to make efforts for your individual success, but please contribute to the nation’s development.”
Jo, an economics professor, seemed surprised at Jeong’s remark, but did not react.
After the session, Rep. Kim Byungwook of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) said Jeong’s remarks were inappropriate for a confirmation hearing where the lawmakers should verify the nominee’s ability to lead the commission, not private matters such as marriage and childbirth.
“If the nominee were a man, would Rep. Jeong ask the nominee such questions? This kind of situation should not occur again at a hearing,” Rep. Kim said.
As controversy rose, Jeong apologized to Jo in the afternoon session, and Jo accepted.
A group of female lawmakers of the DPK also released a statement Tuesday saying that it was highly regrettable for a lawmaker, who was attending the hearing to represent the public, to have made remarks degrading women and regarding them as walking wombs.
“Please take some time to reflect on yourself over your outdated mindset,” the statement said. “Jeong is ignorant of the fact that there are various types of families, and seems to believe women giving birth and rearing children is the only way for them to contribute to the country. He is unqualified to be a lawmaker in today’s society.”
Meanwhile, another LKP lawmaker Park Sung-joong also provoked public anger when he berated Science and ICT Minister nominee Choi Ki-young for “not managing his wife properly.”
During a confirmation hearing for Choi, Rep. Park asked for details about donations Choi had made, saying the donations were made to liberal civic groups and he was politically biased.
When Choi said the donations have been managed by his wife, Park said, “You even don’t manage your wife properly, and I don’t think you can properly manage the ministry which has a budget of tens of trillions of won.”
Other lawmakers immediately pointed out his inappropriate remark, but Park said he had no intention to retract his comment, as he meant the nominee should have “managed his wife’s behavior and spending.”
Rep. Shin Yong-hyeon of the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party said Park’s comment misconstrues women and wives as property of men and husbands. “Choi’s wife is a college professor who has her own financial activities and she has complete freedom to support any organizations based on her political beliefs. Park’s remark implies husbands need to control their wives’ financial activities and political beliefs,” Shin said.