Kwon Young-guk, leader of the Democratic Labor Party, urged the resignation of Kang Seon-woo, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, for stating that “social consensus should precede” issues on gender agenda such as non-consensual rape and anti-discrimination laws, asking, “What do you want to do by becoming a minister?”
On the 14th, Kwon noted on Facebook that “Kang has expressed a reserved stance on major policy agendas in the gender field, including non-consensual rape, comprehensive sexual education, anti-discrimination laws, and cohabitation laws, citing ‘social consensus should precede’ as the reason,” adding, “I urge Kang to resign for postponing women’s issues.”
Kwon stated, “Non-consensual rape is one of the policies women desperately demanded during the 21st presidential election,” and asked, “Didn’t the words of a sexual violence survivor who said she thought, ‘I won’t have to die’ after meeting a candidate who promised to address non-consensual rape not reach Kang?”
He further noted that regarding comprehensive sexual education for children and adolescents, Kang also emphasized the need for social consensus, claiming it is necessary to consider 'various opinions of the education demanders,' and gave similar responses to both the anti-discrimination law and cohabitation law, adding, “Don’t the distorted sexual perceptions and the suffering of marginalized groups, confirmed even now in schools through deepfake sexual crimes, seem invisible to Kang?”
Kwon pointed out, “Among the politicians who talk of ‘social consensus,’ none have actively created that consensus. Citizens are well aware that this ultimately amounts to saying ‘I will not do it,’” adding, “Kang’s attitude betrays the women who have fought for the normalization of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.”
He emphasized, “There is nothing to expect from a minister who is already checking the moods of some men and the conservative church sector before even being formally appointed and is announcing to postpone various issues,” and stated, “We cannot accept a Minister of Gender Equality and Family who postpones women’s issues. I urge her resignation.”
Previously, the Democratic Labor Party had urged the withdrawal of the nomination of Kang due to allegations of abuse of power and false explanations.