WOMEN & POLITICS

THE KOREAN INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN & POLITICS

October 1999

KIWP was established in 1989 with the aims of heightening women's political consciousness and expanding political participation. Since that time, KIWP has worked relentlessly to accomplish those objectives, both domestically and in the international arena, through a broad range of programs and undertaking. Such have included both academic and more pragmatically oriented workshops and seminars and the publication of material designed to promote strategies in support of women candidates in the electoral process. We pride ourselves on our determination and commitment to these goals and our resolve to maintain such posture until such time as genuine equality exists in the political realm.

Contents:

* Message from the Chairperson/Dr. Jung-sook KIM

* KIWP Major Events of 1999

* Korean women in Politics

* Women's Leadership Forum

* '99 Model UN commission on the Status of Women

* Future Activities

Message From the Chairperson

Korean Institute for Women & Politics (KIWP), 1989-1999

: with New Promise and Determination

Kim, Jung-Sook

(Chair, KIWP/Chair, Special Committee on Women's Affairs of the                       National Assembly, R.O.K.)

Ten years have passed since Korean Institute for Women & Politics (KIWP) was established in 1989, with the objectives of promoting the political interests and concerns of Korean women, expanding their political participation, and cultivating a democratic political culture throughout the Korean society.

For ten years, KIWP has considered the following questions: why women should participate in politics; how women's political participation can be expanded; and how women can transform the existing male-dominated political arena.  Based on these issues, under the theme of "Women in Politics (WIP)", KIWP has conducted various activities, such as hosting over 30 academic seminars and conferences, providing education and training programs to cultivate female politicians, offering leadership programs for female political leaders at home and abroad, conducting research on WIP, publishing reports and materials, and promoting international cooperation.

Furthermore, KIWP has made every effort to promote a new transformative political culture to raise women's consciousness and awareness of politics, by establishing a network for cooperation with world-renowned women research institutes, women's organizations and scholars and by publishing collections of academic papers, books and newsletters.

Around the time KIWP formed, we faced many difficulties, in particular the social prejudice against women's political activities and participation.  However, since the foundation of KIWP, people's prejudice on political participation of women has been reconsidered and discussed, and the positive reconsideration on political participation of women has widely spread throughout the society. At last, due to this change, women became more active in conducting political activities, especially in local elections.  We are proud that we have been able to help bring about these accomplishments.  KIWP will continue to do its best to break the traditional misconception on women and politics, and to encourage women, who are equal citizens with equal political rights, to participate in the political sphere.

The future of Korean women in politics is bright, despite the fact that the female members of the National Assembly account for only 3.7 % of the total; those of local councils account for 5.7 %; and those of provincial councils account for 2 %.  The optimistic future will definitely be realized in light of the current positive transformations taking place at both home and abroad that affect people's general opinion of women's political participation.  Also, by fighting for a quota system, searching and training future female politicians, and reforming the party nomination system, the present cooperation among various women's organizations for the support of  female political candidates will help us realize this bright future faster.

We would like to applaud our female candidates who run in elections, create a new electoral culture, and show us the possibility of a new, non-corrupt and democratic political development.

In fact, compared to their male counterparts, these female candidates became models by demonstrating that it is possible to spend little money in the election campaign and to win elections on the basis of their sincere voluntary service activities for their local electorate.  They play leading roles in realizing residents' autonomy and politics in life.  They also conduct vigorous and varied activities, such as promoting research activities for the development of local communities, reforming the authoritarian administrative system as well as the gender-discriminatory atmosphere of the assemblies, securing a budget for school lunch, eliminating sexual harassment at school, advocating policies for women (ex. nursery system) and providing environmentally friendly policies.  The efforts and achievements for the advancement of women that these female politicians and activists have made so far help us to visualize the potentialities of women to confidently the challenge that await us in the 21st century.

In order to achieve partnership between women and men in the 21st century and to develop democratic politics through greater women's political participation, KIWP plans to play its pivotal role in the following activities in the future: lead advocacy activities as well as research activities for WIP; search and train potential female politicians; provide them with leadership training programs; further public relations on the positive image of female politicians; and offer capacity-building activities for leading the advancement of women at the national and international level.

Regarding networking activities, KIWP will enhance cooperation with other Korean women's organizations under the banner of “Women's Solidarity for a Quota System” and "Women's Political Network".  At the international level, the Institute will strive for more concrete networking activities with “East Asia Women in Politics" and "Asia-Pacific Congress of Women in Politics", which have been developing and implementing various kinds of programs and events for women's political empowerment in the Asia-Pacific region since 1994.  Also, as a NGO in Special Consultative Status with the UN ECOSOC, the Institute will expand its capacity to gain achievements in "women and development" through participating in UN activities on social and economic realms and for the advancement of women.

We would like to express our sincere thanks to our members, women politicians and women leaders in every field for your special interest and cooperating with us for the development of KIWP.  We always welcome your support, encouragement and criticism for KIWP's second phase for further development in women and politics.  Thank you very much.

KIWP Major Events 1999

The ’99 Model UN Commission on the Status of Women (MUNCSW) successfully held with approximately 100 participants from 20 universities nationwide

KIWP (Chair Jung-Sook Kim) held the '99 MUNCSW at the Women's Common Forum of the Korean Women's Development Institute (KWDI) on August 26-28, 1999.

Around 100 participants (undergraduate and graduate students from 20 universities across the nation) attended the '99 MUNCSW and had an opportunity to comprehend international women's issues and the activities of each country for the advancement of women as well as to practice the procedural rules used in the real UN conferences.

Political Leadership Training for Young Women

KIWP held the Political Leadership Training for Young Women at the Women's Common Forum of the Korean Women's Development Institute on July 19-21, 1999.  Under the subject of "Understanding of the Political Process", this program was composed of several lectures on the 21st century and women in politics, the situation of women's political participation worldwide and the legislative process in Korea, visits to the National Assembly, the National Assembly Memorial Hall and the Kyunggi Local Assembly, discussion sessions with female politicians, and workshop sessions on leadership development.  About 40 young women were educated in this program.

Women's Leadership Forum

KIWP held the Women's Political Forum under the theme of "The Advancement of Women and the Role of the United Nations" at the VIP Restaurant of the National Assembly on 10 May, 1999.  Chair Jung-Sook Kim presented the roles and activities of the UN for the advancement of women in the last 50 years, followed by Ms. Sung-ja Chang's(Director-General, Policy Planning and Coordination Office of the Presidential Commission on Women's Affairs) report on the outcomes of the 43rd Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and the activities of the Korean Delegation for the Commission. Approximately 70 people, composed of KIWP's members nationwide, former and incumbent female politicians and students attended this forum.

Korean Women in Politics

Past, Present and Future of Korean Women's Politics

Kim, Jung-Sook

(Chair, KIWP/Chair, Special Committee on Women's Affairs of the                       National Assembly, R.O.K.)

Intro

The international community's efforts for the advancement of women during the last 20 years played a signifiant role in drawing world-wide attention to women's issues.  Since the 1980s in Korea, it has been recognized that women's issues are not private affairs but a societal problem.  Thus, women's policy came to be pursued as a part of national policy.  Since the 1990s, women's participation in society, which had been limited up to this period, greatly expanded as women concentrated their efforts to broaden their work in the political and economic spheres.  It was at this point, in 1989, that KIWP was established, aimed at raising women's political consciousness and expanding their political participation.

A local autonomy system, revived after 30 years, offered a new era for women's political participation.  Its implementation changed the political culture, which had been mainly male-oriented and center-focused, by providing women with the opportunity to solve regional and even daily life problems through political means.

Before forging into local politics, women's groups began by discussing the challenge of and strategies for women's political involvement.  Discussions centered on the present situation for national and international women in politics, the systemic social obstacles impeding women's  participation and some possible solutions as well as future tasks for women in politics.  Main factors that block women's greater participation in politics included a male-oriented and authoritative political culture, gender disadvantage in the party nomination process and the election system, voters bias that favored  male candidates and women's general disinterest in political affairs.  Reforming the authoritative political culture and finding some alternatives in the system were some possible solutions considered.  Also changing women's own consciousness and attitude was thought to be important.  What was emphasized was women's will to change the negative and passive attitude toward politics in order to achieve high political consciousness. Educating competent women (who could become political leaders) was also considered crucial.

Present condition on women's political participation in local government: 1989-1999

At the onset of the local autonomy system, women's political participation was 0.9 per cent.  Peoples general opinion of the need for women in politics was very negative.  However, despite the unfavorable reality of women's political involvement, women were shown as alternative choices  in politics (that was characterized as corrupt).  Women have gained in parliament through aid from   local electorate, who supported female candidates, and the volunteer activities of women's organizations.  Therefore, women have shown the possibilities for campaigning for elections at lower costs.  They have also helped their people and communities realize the benefits of local autonomy and improved everyday life politics.

Women's policy included various tasks and activities, such as researching the development of local (civil) society, reforming authoritarian administrative system and a women-degrading atmosphere in parliament, securing budget for school meals, combating sexual violence in schools, providing child-care and advocating for environmentally-friendly policies.

<Table1> Numbers of Female Candidates and Elected

in Regional Parliament Election 1991-1998

	Election type	Candidate	Elected	Percentage
1991	Provisional	124	40	0.9
	Regional	63	8	0.9
1995	Provisional	206	72	1.58
	Regional	proportional 75	42	5.76
		district 40	13
1998	Provisional	140	56	1.6
	Regional	proportional 54	14	5.94
		district 37	27

Future

The 16the General Election is expected in April of 2000 and the 3rd Regional and Presidential Election are both scheduled for 2002. In addition, local elections and general elections is planned every two years.  The new challenges awaiting us in the 21st century demonstrates that women's greater political involvement and their part in decision-making is essential.  Because it is an important time for women to stand out in national development, a more active participation is necessary for  enhancing their representation in politics.

The past work and subsequent gain in promotion of women‘s status through politics show the possibility of women to move toward the 21st Century with pride and confidence, no matter what the challenge.  We need to continually pursue new transformations in the political culture in order to establish a gender-equal democracy.  As such, advancement of women requires preparation of the following:  advocating even greater expansion of women's political participation, searching and educating potential women candidates and giving them hands-on training in elections, offering pubic relations focused on the positive image of female politicians, providing research on women in politics and leading the efforts for capacity-building for women at national and international levels.

<Table 2> Election schedule until 2010

Schedule Election	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Local Election			3th				4th				5th
General Election	16th				17th				18th
Presidential Election			16th					17th

Women's Leadership  Forum

“The Advancement of Women and the Role of the United Nations (UN)"

KIWP held the Women's Leadership Forum under the theme of "The Advancement of Women and the Role of the United Nations" at the VIP Restaurant of the National Assembly on 10 May, 1999.  Chair Jung-Sook Kim presented the roles and activities of the UN for the advancement of women in the last 50 years, followed by Ms. Sung-ja Chang's(Director-General, Policy Planning and Coordination Office of the Presidential Commission on Women's Affairs) report on the outcomes of the 43rd Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and the activities of the Korean Delegation for the Commission.  In the general discussion session, there were diverse opinions on Korean women's role in the international community as international leaders, the efforts that should be made at the government level and by civil society to establish the roles, and plans to cultivate young world women leaders.

Approximately 70 people, composed of KIWP's members nationwide, former and incumbent female politicians and students attended this forum.  The Women's Leadership Forum provides a good opportunity to understand and discuss the current political situation, in pursuit of a new, transformative politics by women.  From this year, the Forum will be held regularly with various themes, such as reunification, electoral system, women's policies in foreign countries, etc.       l

Jung-Sook Kim

(Chair, KIWP/ Chair, Special Committee on Women's Affairs of

the National Assembly, R.O.K.)

Since its foundation, the United Nations has significantly contributed not only to world peace, affected the changes and development of each country in politics, economy and society, but it has also helped the advancement of women.  The current status of women's issues as a global agenda is an outcome of UN's efforts for the advancement of women.  The UN has held a series of international conferences on children (1990), environment and development (1992), human rights (1993), population and development (1994), society and development (1995), women (1995) and habitat (1996).  Through these conferences, the UN could make the whole international community recognize importance and priorities of social development, and provide a political momentum for action plans in certain areas.  In effect, the UN has stressed that equal partnership between women and men is necessary for human-centered and sustainable development.

The UN is an important resource for making strategies for the advancement of women at the international level.  It can establish the global standard of women's rights, affect world opinions, and enhance women's movements of each member state.  In this regard, Korea is not an exception.  The UN has influenced the changes of Korean women society and has contributed to the formation of framework for women and development.

Considering the UN's achievements and influence, the following efforts are needed for women's development through the UN system.  First of all, women should be encouraged to participate in politics and any other spheres of society, and to play leading roles in the international society.  To accomplish this, women should actively participate in various kinds of international conferences held every year. and secure a certain number of positions in the delegation for every UN conference.  In the long run, both government and civil organizations ought to search future experts on international cooperation and provide training and education for them.  Moreover, the two entities ought to strengthen cooperation with international organizations by conducting joint programs so as to create a favorable environment in Korea to discuss international issues.  The Korean government should be ready to accept international standards formulated by international consent, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).  Finally, both government and women's organizations ought to comprehend the conditions and activities of women worldwide, and enhance primary and comprehensive studies about international cooperation.

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'99 Model UN Commission on the Status of Women,  MUNCSW

Korean Institute for Women & Politics held a「Model UN Commission on the Status of Women」 from Aug. 26 to 28, at the Women's Common Forum in Korean Women's Development Institute.  MUNCSW was held with about 100 students from 20 universities all over the country and activists from various NGOs.  This program was an important educational forum which enabled participants to experience actual rules of procedure of formal and informal meetings in UN, as well as to understand different women's issues dealt in international society centering around UN.

Jung-Sook Kim, Chair of KIWP, explained that MUNCSW's agendas were selected considering critical areas of real CSW, among which are 'Women and the Environment' and 'Women in Power and Decision-making', as important issues for progress and development of women's status.  And she gave an welcoming address expressing hope that the participants here would become excellent human resources to contribute in the future to the development of women and more broadly, the whole human kind.  Gui-Won Kang, Chair of Presidential Commission on Women's Affairs, offered in the opening ceremony a congratulatory remark that this event, as a cooperative joint project, would be a successful educational program for the expansion of women's participation.  She also emphasized the importance of giving support at the national level and of activating joint project between non-governmental organizations and governments.  Young-Jung Kim, a member of CEDAW(Committee on Elimination of Discrimination against Women), acclaimed KIWP's achievement in providing this precious opportunity of learning the procedural rules of international conferences in her speech.  She further hoped to provide similar occasions to a lot of women as its continuous program.  Yeon-Sook Lee, Vice Chair of UN Association Korea, as the chief judge, set out standards of evaluation for students' performance in their keynote addresses, and participation in formal meetings and informal meetings.  She encouraged them to have good competition and to make the most out of this important opportunity to upgrade the quality as international women leaders who will lead the development of women in and out of this country.

Before the plenary meeting, there have been four orientations on 'UN and Development of Women', 'The Role and Function of CSW' and etc.  Participants learned about the current international issues on women and the procedural rules of UN conferences through these orientations.  The first orientation was at the National Assembly Research and Training Institute on July 2.  Yun-Sook Lee (former Minister of Political Affairs Ⅱ) gave a lecture on 'UN, Development of Women and CSW' there; and in the second part, there was a procedure of selecting State Parties, organizing delegation and  explaining overall outline of session and schedule on the same day.  The second orientation consisted of a lecture on procedural rules of CSW by Soon-Young Jung (Director-General, Research Coordination, Planning and Budgeting Bureau of Korean Women's Development Institute).  There was the third orientation for the representatives of UN organizations and  NGOs on Aug 18, and finally the last orientation was held for the Bureau and delegation on Aug 20.

There were all together 10 participating state parties chosen among the 45 member states of CSW according to their continental division: Republic of South Africa from Africa; Australia, Indonesia, Islam Republic of Iran, Republic of Korea from Asia-Pacific region; Russian Federation from Eastern Europe; Brazil from Latin America; United Kingdom, Germany and United States of America from Western Europe and Others. The delegation of each government comprised of 4-5 participants.  The UN organizations and NGOs who participated were UNDP(United Nations Development Program), UNIFEM(United Nations Development Fund for Women), FAO(Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), World Bank, WWFN(World Wide for Nature), Greenpeace, KIWP, WAGGS(World Association of Girl Guides), WEDO(Women's Environment and Development Organization) and KWEN(Korea Women's Environment Network).

After the pleanary meeting for 3 days, the judge committee consisting of related experts - Yun-Sook Lee as the chief judge, Soon-Young Jung, Jae-Young Park (Professor of Kyoung-Sang Univ. Politics), Sung-Ja Jang(Director-General, Planning & Policy Coordination of Presidential Commission on Women's Affairs) and Ok-Soon Lee( Programme Assistant, UNDP Korea) - selected those who made excellent performance and awarded them the first, second, third, fourth and special prize with a plaque and prize.  The first prize winner was Hae-Jin Han (Junior, Politics major, Korea Univ. / Agenda (b) women in decision-making).  And She was also given the special privilege  to participate in the 44th UNCSW, which will be held at the UN Headquarters in New York, starting from Feb 27 of year 2000.  KIWP has a plan to hold MUNCSW every year and envisions that the 2000 MUNCSW will provide greater opportunity for young women.

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Future Activities

Leadership Training for Young Women

KIWP will hold the second Leadership Training for Young Women on "Practice of Political Process: Political Parties and Elections" at the Korean Women's Development Institute on November 18-20, 1999.  This program will provide young women between the 20s and 30s with basic lectures on democratic politics, political parties and elections.  It will also give the participants an opportunity to visit to the major Korean political parties, to observe women's political activities in the parties, and to have discussion with former and incumbent female politicians.  We hope that many future women political leaders will join this substantial program.

Training of Trainers (TOT)

The Women's Political Network, which is composed of the major four organizations related women in politics (WIP), has striven to change the existing lecture-centered political education method into a more efficient one for adults.  Thus, the Network will provide a Training of Trainers (TOT) program for those who are in charge of this new education.  With the main subject of "Education for Building Women Voters' Political Consciousness", this TOT program will consist of lectures and practices on different education methods, such as Brain Writing, Idea Writing, Card Posting, Text Summary and Scenario Method.  Also, this program will give all the participants a chance to discuss the reality and strategies of political education for women in Korea.  Admission will be given to the first 20 women, who wish to keep on contributing to political education for women, with recommendation of the head of their institutions.

Establishment of East Asian Women in Politics (EAWIP)'s Website

The Center for Asia-Pacific Women in Politics (CAPWIP) has promoted effective international networking to expand women's political participation in the 21st century.  CAPWIP agreed on the establishment of the Electronic Network for information exchange and cooperation among the member states of the Center in South East Asia, West Asia, Middle Asia and the Pacific, including in East Asia.  Now, the Center is conducting specific and substantial measures for the network.  Along with CAPWIP, KIWP has been preparing opening of EAWIP's website by early 2000, as the East Asian focal point of CAPWIP.  We expect that this website will introduce the WIP activities of the member states at the national level, update current networking situation at the sub-regional level and regional level, and provide various kinds of information resources on WIP projects to be held in the future.