South Korea politician blames women for rising male suicides

A South Korean politician is under fire for making controversial comments linking the rise in male suicides to the increasing role of women in society. Councillor Kim Ki-duck argued that women's growing participation in the workforce has made it more difficult for men to find jobs and partners, suggesting that South Korea is becoming a female-dominant society. He claimed this shift might be partly responsible for the increase in male suicide attempts. South Korea has one of the highest suicide rates among wealthy nations and also struggles with gender equality. Councillor Kim's remarks have been criticized as out-of-touch and unfounded. Councillor Kim, a member of the Democratic Party, based his assessment on data from suicide attempts at bridges along Seoul's Han river. The report, published on the city council's official website, revealed that the number of suicide attempts at the river increased from 430 in 2018 to 1,035 in 2023. The proportion of men among those attempting suicide rose from 67% to 77%. Suicide prevention experts have expressed concern over Mr. Kim's report, warning that it is dangerous to make such claims without sufficient evidence. Professor Song In Han, a mental health expert at Seoul's Yonsei University, pointed out that globally, more men take their lives than women. In many countries, including the UK, suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 50. Professor Song emphasized the need for scientific study to understand the reasons behind the sharp rise in male suicide attempts in Seoul, calling it regrettable that Councillor Kim framed the issue as a gender conflict. In South Korea, there is a significant disparity between the number of men and women in full-time employment, with women more likely to work temporary or part-time jobs. While the gender pay gap is slowly narrowing, women still earn 29% less than men on average. In recent years, an anti-feminist movement has gained traction, led by disillusioned young men who feel disadvantaged by efforts to improve women's lives. Councillor Kim's report appeared to echo these sentiments, concluding that the way to address the 'female-domination phenomenon' is to raise awareness of gender equality so that men and women can enjoy equal opportunities. Many Koreans took to social media to denounce Councillor Kim's remarks as unsubstantiated and misogynistic. The Justice Party accused him of shifting the blame to women who are already struggling with gender discrimination. They called on him to retract his comments and conduct a proper analysis of the issue. When approached for comment by the BBC, Councillor Kim stated that he did not intend to criticize the female-dominated society but was merely expressing his personal view on some of its consequences. However, his comments are part of a broader trend of unscientific and sometimes bizarre political proposals aimed at addressing South Korea's pressing social issues, such as mental illness, gender violence, and the country's low birth rate. Last month, another Seoul councillor in his 60s published articles on the authority's website encouraging young women to take up gymnastics and practice pelvic floor exercises to boost the birth rate. A government think tank also recommended that girls start school earlier than boys so that classmates would be more attracted to each other by the time they were ready to marry. Yuri Kim, director of the Korean Women's Trade Union, argued that such comments highlight the pervasive misogyny in South Korea. She accused politicians and policymakers of failing to understand the challenges women face and instead scapegoating them. She warned that blaming women for entering the workforce would only prolong societal imbalances. Currently, women make up 20% of South Korea's members of parliament and 29% of all local councillors. Seoul City Council told the BBC that there is no process to vet what politicians publish on its official website unless the content is illegal. It stated that individuals are responsible for their content and will face any consequences at the next election. If you or someone you know has been affected by issues in this article, there are resources available to help.