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March 20, 2010
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| The Ministry of Gender Equality officially changed its name to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (MOGEF) yesterday after taking over the jurisdiction of government policies on family, youth, child care and multicultural family affairs from the health and welfare ministry. With the expanded organization and jurisdiction - which is intended to emphasize the importance of women and child care-oriented policies - the MOGEF’s staff will nearly double from 109 to 211. The ministry’s annual budget will also increase nearly fourfold to 422.3 billion won ($380 million). The gender equality ministry was created in 2001 to formulate and implement gender-related policies and enhance women’s status and rights in society. With the inauguration of the Lee Myung-bak government in early 2008, the gender equality ministry lost its family and youth affairs jurisdiction to the health ministry. But it regained its original jurisdiction with the latest government reorganization. At the MOGEF’s inaugural ceremony in Seoul, Minister Paik Hee-young said her ministry will actively cope with the country’s low birthrate, family breakups and other potential dangers to society. Yonhap |
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