Ministry of Gender Equality's end outlined in proposal

A hallway at the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family's office in the government complex in Seoul on July 28. [NEWS1]

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family may be abolished under a plan developed by the Minister of the Interior and Safety.

It would be subsumed by the Ministry of Health and Welfare if the proposed amendment to the Government Organization Act is passed by the National Assembly.

Vice Minister of the Interior and Safety Han Chang-seob reported the plan to the Democratic Party (DP) leadership Wednesday, including party floor leader Park Hong-kuen, and gathered opinions from members of the DP.

“If the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is downgraded, the negotiating power with other ministries could be weakened,” said DP spokesperson Rep. Oh Yeong-hwan to reporters. “We have clearly communicated our concerns and worries about this.”

President Yoon Suk-yeol ordered the preparation of a plan to realize his campaign promise to abolish the ministry.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]