Ministry of Gender Equality and Family

Origins Since the establishment of the South Korean government in August 1948, the Ministry of Social Issues () handled discrimination against women until the department's merger in 1955. During this time, the Ministry of Social Issues merged with the Ministry of Health () to become the Ministry of Social Issues and Health (). In 1994, the Ministry of Social Issues and Health became the Ministry of Health and Welfare (); subsequently, the organization began to take action of sexism. However, the ministries were criticized for social positions belonging to women and the organization's unreliable enforcement of its policies. Specific policies addressing sexism began to be addressed with the establishment of the Department Heading State Affairs () on February 25, 1998, after the inauguration of President Kim Dae-jung. On February 28, 1998, the Presidential Commission on Women's Affairs () was formed. On July 23, 1999, the law forbidding and regulating sexual discrimination () was created. However, the criticism concerning the lack of advancements for women in societies continued, and the Ministry of Gender Equality () was formed as a response On March 19, 2010, the Ministry was rearranged to become the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, still keeping the responsibilities of overseeing teenagers and families. == Logo ==

File:여성가족부 로고 (2005-2008).svg|2005~2008 File:여성가족부 로고 (2010-2016).svg|2010~2016 File:Ministry of Gender Equality and Family of the Republic of Korea Logo (2016-2025) (vertical).svg|2016~2025 File:Ministry of Gender Equality and Family of the Republic of Korea Logo (vertical).svg|2025~present == Organization ==

Objectives According to the Official Ministry of Gender Equality and Family English website, the objectives are to plan and coordinate women's policy, and improve women's status through the enhancement of women's rights, establish, conciliate, and support for the family policy and multicultural family policy, foster welfare and protect youth, and prevent violence against women, children, and youth as well as victims. Functions According to the Official Ministry of Gender Equality and Family English website, the functions of the ministry are to plan and coordinate gender-related policies, have gender impact analysis of policies, develop and utilize women resources, expand women's participation in society, prevent sex trade and protect its victims, prevent domestic and sexual violence and protect its victims, and forge partnerships with women civil groups and international organizations. == Controversies ==

There has been a criticism of the involvement of the word Women () in the name of MOGEF, bringing charges of taking a side in the issue of gender inequality and reverse discrimination. In 2013, there was a calling for its abolition. In 2025, the ministry removed the word "women" from its Korean title for the first time since the ministry's inception in 2001. It has additionally created a Gender Equity Planning Division to address reverse discrimination against young men, particularly those in their 20s. In 2006, the MOGEF established a policy to pay men not to hire prostitutes on men's New Year's Day parties. Men were told to sign up on the website with their national identification number, and the total budget was 3,600,000 Won (3,175 US Dollars). Crowds formed a petition to bring down MOGEF. The law has been criticized as being ineffective, encouraging teenagers to commit the crime of using their parents' resident registration number, and restricting the production of domestic games. The law was abolished in August 2021. == List of ministers ==