“The word ‘feminism’ has become a dirty word to a lot of individuals in Korea, and people are unwilling to recognise – and are uncomfortable confronting – the deeply rooted patriarchy that has driven society for so long,” she said.
My first thought was young Koreans will probably change that. And then I read the next chapter…
According to a 2019 survey by local media outlet SisaIN, 62.3% of men in their 20s do not believe feminism is a movement to achieve gender equality. Some 78.9% of men in their 20s agreed with a statement that it was about “female supremacy”.
Interestingly, we see a rise in Korean culture worldwide while its culture is still rooted in misogyny and patriarchy—a contrast to most Western ideals.
The article doesn’t explain the reason for this, other than that Korea is a patriarchial society still, and online communities might also affect the youth’s backward position. I wonder if Korean Pop culture, with its less male-dominated stereotypes and strong female leads, is changing that discourse long term.
I’ve always found the dissonance with South Korea very intresting. Many people–including self professed fans of the country–are wholly unaware of how far right the country is, and how generally conservative their culture is. I often see this dissonance in individuals who themselves are left or very left, and support only those policies, yet love South Korea and its perceived culture. It’s bewildering, to say the least.
