South Korean women's groups criticize Kang, the candidate for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, calling her ”unfit for public office”

South Korean women's groups have been criticizing Kang Seon-woo, a candidate for the Minister of Gender Equality and Family, for allegedly "harassing his aide." Some groups are calling for Kang to immediately resign.
On the 15th, the Korean Women's Political Network published a commentary titled "We urge candidate Kang, who cannot even distinguish between public and private matters, to withdraw." Kang's explanation itself is a clear indication of the power harassment she has been engaging in.
The group pointed out, "Candidate Kang's response to the power harassment allegations itself reveals the extent of the influence she enjoyed. She did not offer 'advice' or 'support' as a former member of the press secretary would have expected.
"They chose to use gentle words like 'requests', but in reality they are disguising a problem that arose in a private space as 'advice' or 'requests' and making me perform private tasks," he said in his criticism.
He continued, "If a Diet member leaves food or drink in his car, even if he is not explicitly told to clean it up, it is the responsibility of those in his employment to clean it up.
"It's common sense that everyone should understand that," he said. "Candidate Kang's attitude of exploiting the character and labor of others and trying to cover up the truth with words like 'advice' and 'requests' is a double-dealer.
"Even if there was no intention to commit power harassment, someone who cannot distinguish between official duties and power harassment lacks the basic qualifications to be a public official.
"She should not only not be the Minister of Gender Equality and Family, but should not hold any public office," he said. The Korean Women's Organizations Union also published a commentary on the same day, saying, "The power harassment allegations against the aide raised by candidate Kang have been unfounded.
"His explanation about the confusion fundamentally calls into question his qualifications to head a ministry whose job is to build a gender-equal society by eliminating discrimination and promoting the rights of women and minorities."
The group said, "As the Minister of Gender Equality and Family, who should realize the values of human rights and equality, she should demonstrate more responsibility than anyone else regarding her words and actions in the power relationships within the organization, and apply and practice this to herself.
" In addition, he expressed concern about Kang's stance on gender equality policy issues. "The candidate has been adamant about not taking on key issues such as anti-discrimination laws, comprehensive sex education, and the crime of non-consensual rape.
"This opinion does not meet the recommendations of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women or international human rights standards, and is not in line with gender equality.
"This shows that there is a lack of will and planning to proactively solve the issue of equality policy," he said. The civic group "Workplace Power Harassment 119" has also been reporting that "allegations of power harassment have been reported in the past.
We are opposed to the appointment of someone whose status has not been resolved to the position of Minister of Gender Equality and Family, a position that should protect the rights and interests of the socially vulnerable and minorities."
Candidate Kang has previously explained that he had sought advice from his aide and made a request regarding the power harassment.
.