Won Min-kyung, Minister of the Gender Equality and Family Ministry, stated on October 1 that she received a request through her chief of staff to ensure the organization is well-managed following the resignation of Minister nominee Yoon Hye-in.
During a briefing at the Government Seoul Complex marking the first anniversary of the ministry's launch, she noted, "As everyone knows, ministers in the executive branch do not have fixed terms. The term begins when the head of state assigns the duties, and the end is also determined by the appointing authority."
She added, "I am working diligently with ministry staff to implement the policy tasks I reported to the public and the president in July without wavering."
In response to concerns about limited authority during collaboration with other ministries, Won emphasized, "Recently, we received positive evaluations from various ministries regarding the Gender Equality Ministry's active involvement in discussions on issues like Google’s data breach and Mifeprex." She acknowledged the heightened public expectations for the ministry following its expansion and reorganization, stating, "We will fulfill our responsibilities with greater authority and status moving forward."
Addressing worries that the abolition of prosecutors' supplementary investigation rights could delay resolutions in cases of violence against women, she assured, "Since July, we have been meeting with relevant ministries, field representatives, and victim support attorneys to ensure there are no gaps. We plan to enhance free legal support from the initial stages of investigations by providing necessary guidance materials."
She continued, "With 617 counseling centers managed by the ministry and over 300 volunteer attorneys for free legal petitions, victims will not have to bear all the burdens alone."
The ministry plans to establish statistics on gender violence and femicide starting next year. Won explained, "The National Police Agency plans to launch a judicial information system in 2027, which will allow for the production of these statistics afterward. There are limitations to relying solely on standardized statistics for hate-motivated murders, and we plan to conduct research on statistical methods next year."
Won also expressed the intention to continuously share awareness of gender equality issues not only at the central level but also with local governments. Despite three months passing since the launch of the 9th elected local government in July, concerns have been raised about the inadequate establishment and operation of dedicated gender equality departments in local governments.
In response, she stated, "Since the second half of last year, I have visited local governments to discuss the reorganization of gender equality promotion systems and cooperation on safety issues for women and youth, as well as family agendas, but this has only occurred in two regions. After the national audit, I will request that we share the importance of gender equality policies with local governments and facilitate organizational restructuring by November to December."
Regarding the decision to relocate the Gender Equality Ministry to Sejong City in the first half of next year, she noted, "Sejong City has well-established living infrastructure for education and childcare, as several ministries are relocating there, but we anticipate challenges for employees during the move. We will actively support them to ensure there are no inconveniences during the transition while maintaining communication with staff."
Won outlined the ministry's key tasks for next year, stating, "In 2027, we will continue to strengthen our response to violence while focusing more on victim protection and prevention of recurrence. We will proactively address new forms of violence, such as digital sexual crimes and violence based on intimate relationships, ensuring seamless protection for victims from investigations to daily life through legal, housing, and recovery support."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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