Lawmaker reignites debate on women s military service
Posted : 2021-04-20 16:54
Updated : 2021-04-20 19:17
Men subject to enlistment wait for health checkup at an exam center in Seoul to get their physical grade for military service in this Feb. 17 photo. Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-han
By Nam Hyun-woo
Rep. Park Yong-jin of the Democratic Party of Korea speaks during an interview with the Hankook Ilbo, a sister paper of The Korea Times, at the National Assembly in this Sept. 9, 2020 photo. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-keunA decades-long debate on mandatory military service for women has been reignited by Rep. Park Yong-jin of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), a presidential hopeful, who wants to change the current conscription system to encompass men and women who will both serve in the military for a shortened term.
Lingering gender inequality and the women s body politic
Posted : 2021-01-30 18:06
By David Tizzard
Gender inequality remains a very serious problem in South Korea, with much of society characterized by patriarchal attitudes and androcentrism. For many people here, these words are not YouTube buzz words ― they are a living and dangerous reality.
In the past few years, society s values and attitudes have been thrust into an unwelcome light following the nation s struggle to come to terms with the tragic murder of an innocent woman near Gangnam Station, the depths of depravity in the entertainment business revealed by the Burning Sun scandal, the unspeakable horrors of the Nth Room case, and the continuing battle to appropriately combat the prevalence of digital sex crimes.
Ruling party faces criticism over its attitude to Justice Party s sexual harassment case
Posted : 2021-01-27 16:51
Updated : 2021-01-27 18:30
Rep. Lee Nak-yon, center, chairman of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, speaks during the party s Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly, Wednesday. During the meeting, he apologized to the victim of Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon s sexual harassment case as the National Human Rights Commission announced Park s actions toward the victim constituted sexual harassment. / Yonhap
By Jun Ji-hye
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is facing increased criticism after it criticized the Justice Party following the announcement that the chief of the minor opposition party was stepping down because he sexually harassed a female lawmaker from the same party.