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Lee pledges to advance gender equality on International Women's Day

Published: 08 Mar. 2026, 20:36

President Lee Jae Myung at the Blue House in central Seoul on March 6 [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

President Lee Jae Myung pledged to advance gender equality and foster a more inclusive society on Sunday, International Women's Day.

“I will fulfill my given role and responsibility to ensure that the Republic of Korea is reborn as a gender-equal society,” Lee wrote on his Facebook page, referring to South Korea's official name.

Lee said gender equality policies were scaled back under the previous administration, which had pledged to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family but failed, noting that his administration will work to restore and strengthen those efforts.

“[The government] is reversing that trend by restoring gender equality policies to their rightful place, filling the gaps left in the past and moving step by step toward a gender-equal society,” he said.

Reflecting on the long journey of those who have worked to advance women's rights, Lee reviewed the remaining tasks needed to achieve gender equality and protect the rights of those who have been discriminated against or marginalized.

“We will build a society in which differences do not lead to discrimination and diversity does not become a reason for exclusion — a community in which everyone can live safely and with dignity,” he said.

International Women's Day is celebrated annually on March 8 to honor the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women while calling for accelerated gender equality.

Yonhap