Thread by @BBCLBicker

Just a few facts as South Korean presidential candidates discuss feminism.

South Korean women’s average monthly wage was 67.7% of that of men in 2020, which is the biggest gap among OECD countries.

On sex crimes, which is a major concern for many young women in particular.

On average over the last 10 years, 99.1% of those convicted of sex crimes were male and 0.9% were female.

Sentences were historically low. 41.4% were given probation and 30.2% a fine.

It is true that some corporations in South Korea are hiring more women. But still women only make up 5.2% of boards.

The public sector is faring better due to a push to hire more women. Female managers make up 22.8% of central gov, 20.8% local gov, 26.4% in public institutions

This campaign has focussed predominantly on young men as some believe they will swing this election. Those I’ve spoken to say they feel “reverse discrimination”. They have to serve in the military, and despite women calling for equality, men still have to pay for house, family.

Those things may be true and they have a right to be heard. The problem is that even the fight for equality in Korea is not equal.

Young women took to the streets for years to fight for tougher sentences for sex crimes. It took until 2019 for laws to change.. and yet..

And yet, adverts depicting this 🤏 emoji which some Korean men believed were making fun of their appendage size were pulled after just days of an online outcry.

In this campaign the cry of ‘Me Too’ feels drowned out by men shouting ‘Me First’.