Nearly half of adults support abolition of gender ministry
SEOUL, July 15 (Yonhap) -- Nearly half of South Korean adults are in favor of some opposition lawmakers' proposals to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, a poll showed Thursday.
In the poll of 1,016 people nationwide over the age of 18, 48 percent said they agree with the proposed dissolution of the gender ministry.
Another 41 percent said they oppose the abolition of the gender ministry, while the remaining 11 percent said they do not know the issue well or refused to answer.
Notably, the proposed abolition of the ministry was supported by 61 percent of male respondents and 35 percent of female respondents. By contrast, 51 percent of female pollees and 32 percent of male pollees were against the breakup of the gender ministry.

Women activists hold a rally in front of the headquarters of the main opposition People Power Party in Yeouido, central Seoul, on July 9, 2021, to protest its proposal to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. (Yonhap)
By age group, 59 percent of respondents in their 20s and 30s expressed support for the abolition of the ministry. In contrast, 51 percent of respondents in their 40s and 50s did not agree with its dissolution.
The poll jointly conducted from Monday to Wednesday by four Seoul-based pollsters -- Embrain Public, KSTAT Research, Korea Research International and Hankook Research -- has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points with a 95 percent confidence level.
Earlier this month, Chairman Lee Jun-seok of the main opposition People Power Party and some of the party's presidential hopefuls called for the abolition of the gender ministry, saying the ministry has outlived its lifespan as a special missions ministry or had no roles from the outset.
But Minister of Gender Equality and Family Chung Young-ai and the ruling Democratic Party opposed the proposal, saying the ministry still has more work to do to reduce gender discrimination and violence against socially vulnerable groups.
The gender ministry was established in early 2001 as a campaign pledge of the Kim Dae-jung administration. It is in charge of planning gender-related policies, such as expanding women's social participation, preventing domestic and sexual violence and protecting victims.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
Ateez realizes importance of direct interactions with fans during world tours
-
U.S. B-1B strategic bomber returns to S. Korea as N.K. fires missile
-
(URGENT) N. Korean leader Kim Jong-un calls for completing readiness for nuclear attack against enemies: KCNA
-
BTS member Jimin's single tops iTunes charts in 110 countries
-
TWICE's new album hits No. 2 on Billboard 200
-
Ateez realizes importance of direct interactions with fans during world tours
-
(LEAD) S. Korea fully restores bilateral military information-sharing pact with Japan
-
(LEAD) Political divide intensifies in S. Korea over Yoon-Kishida summit
-
U.S. B-1B strategic bomber returns to S. Korea as N.K. fires missile
-
S. Korean FM says wartime sexual slavery, Dokdo not discussed in Yoon-Kishida summit
-
U.S. Forces Korea holds first deployment training of THAAD 'remote' launcher
-
(LEAD) N. Korea tests 'underwater nuclear attack drone,' cruise missiles for nuclear warhead: KCNA
-
(LEAD) Yoon vows to make N. Korea pay for reckless provocations
-
(LEAD) U.S. Forces Korea holds first deployment training of THAAD 'remote' launcher
-
(3rd LD) S. Korea to seek extradition of crypto fugitive Kwon from Montenegro