사회발전을 향한 여성통합 30년의 성과와 전망 (I)(Integration of women into social development of the Republic of Korea since the 1980s)

The Korean government has started integrating gender perspective in its national development plans since Women's Policy Deliberation Committee under the Prime Minister and the Korean Women’s Development Institute were established in 1983. Afterwards there has been a need for further policy reviews. The study aims to review what has been established by major policies since gender perspective has been integrated into social development. It also aims to analyze users’ feedback on those policies. The study will allow us to have a general understanding of the 30 year history of gender perspective development. We also expect further development to advance women's polices, through means that are obtainable. The study will be conducted for 3 years. With 2011 being the first year, the study overviews 30 years of history focusing on the social development reflecting on women's perspectives. It would include fundamental studies as well as more elaborate studies. First, we will review the past 30 years’ history of women’s integration in nine parts; Politics/Administration, Welfare, Economy, Family, Education, Culture/Social Activity, Organizations, International affairs, Peace/ Unification. And then we will analyze user’s views on 30 years’ history of women’s integration. ① Citizen Awareness Survey: The survey of 1500 citizens was conducted on 24 women’s policies and under 11 categories to measure awareness, level of contribution to social development, necessity and effectiveness. ② Media: Looking at women’s integration through the lens of the Amendment of the Media/Family Law ③ National Assembly: Looking at women’s integration from the viewpoint of law makers. ④ Women’s Association: The FGI research results can be divided into two big parts; one is the background of the Women’s Policies created during the last 30 years, and the other includes the challenges and suggestions of the women’s policies. In the first part, achievement and backlash of the women’s policies are discussed. Based on this discussion, the future directions of the women’s policies and suggestions are created, which makes up the second part. ⑤ International Society: To see how the international society viewed the Korea women’s policies in the last 30 years, the author(s) interviewed people who were working at related UN organizations and OECD. The interviewers said that Korean women’s policies were successful thanks to the institutionalization and implementation system. Also, they added that women’s social participationhas been elevated significantly. However, Korea is still having difficulties with minimizing the gap between the policies, the real world and the old customs. Also, the work-family balance has not stabilized yet, and this fact still remains to be examined. This report is meaningful as it examined the achievement and shortfalls of women’s policies in various perspectives. To view the women’s policies from the perspective of those affected by the policies, this report attempted to analyze women’s policies through the lens of civil society, media, national assembly, women’s association, and international society. The followings should be supplemented for further study. First, the time frame should be extended to pre-1980, before Women’s policies were put in force. Secondly, regarding to the media sector examination, more diversified analytic framework is needed. Third, reviewing governance needs to be added.