South Korea's New President Vows to Reverse Gender Equality Rollbacks
President Lee Jae Myung has pledged to push for stronger gender equality in South Korea. His announcement comes after years of policy shifts under the previous administration, which scaled back key initiatives aimed at protecting women's rights and marginalised groups.
Since 2022, the Yoon Suk-yeol government had moved away from traditional gender equality policies. Ministers like Kim Hyun-sook and Jang Na-ra focused instead on issues like low birth rates and perceived disadvantages for men. By 2025, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family was abolished entirely. Gender quotas in corporate boards and public sectors were removed, while budgets once allocated to women's rights were redirected to family and childcare programmes, including expanded paternity leave and fertility support.
Under Yoon's leadership, no major new laws strengthening gender equality were passed by 2026. Lee has now criticised these changes, arguing they weakened protections for vulnerable groups. He has promised to restore and expand gender equality efforts, framing the work as an ongoing struggle rather than a finished task.
Lee's vision includes building a society where differences do not lead to discrimination and diversity does not result in exclusion. His administration has committed to reversing past rollbacks and ensuring stronger legal safeguards for marginalised individuals.
The new government's focus on gender equality marks a shift from recent policies. Lee's plans include reinstating key protections and funding for women's rights, alongside broader efforts to eliminate systemic discrimination. The changes will require legislative action and sustained budgetary support in the coming years.
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