In a groundbreaking decision, a South Korean court has officially recognised misogyny as a motive for a hate crime in the country. The Changwon District Court recently upheld a previous ruling and sentenced a man in his 20s to three years in prison for aggravated assault, property damage, and obstructing business operations. This ruling marks a significant step in the face of a growing “anti-feminist” movement in South Korea.
The court’s decision was based on the determination that the man’s actions were driven by “baseless hatred and bias against women,” as reported by The Korea Herald. The incident occurred when the man attacked a woman working at a convenience store in Jinju, South Gyeongsang province, simply because he perceived her to be a feminist due to her short hair. The man verbally expressed his misogynistic beliefs during the assault, stating, “Since you have short hair, you must be a feminist. I’m a male chauvinist, and I think feminists should be punished.”
During the attack, the man also physically assaulted a male customer who attempted to intervene in the situation. He questioned the customer’s loyalty by saying, “Why are you not taking my side? She is a feminist.” The violence only ceased when the police arrived and detained the attacker, who was reportedly in a drunken state.
The repercussions of the assault were severe, with the female victim sustaining ligament injuries and hearing impairment, while the male customer suffered fractures to his face and shoulder after being hit with a chair. The court noted that the defendant’s actions and statements during the incident clearly indicated a misogynistic motive.
This incident sheds light on the challenges faced by women in South Korea, where those with short hair are often targeted by men who associate the hairstyle with feminism, a misconception that leads to discrimination and violence. In response to the backlash against female athletes like An San, who faced criticism for her short hair after winning three gold medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, many South Korean women, including politicians and celebrities, showed solidarity by sharing photos of their own short haircuts to support the athlete.
South Korea continues to struggle with gender equality, ranking poorly among advanced nations in various aspects. The country has the highest gender pay gap among OECD countries and consistently scores low on the Economist’s Glass Ceiling Index, which evaluates equal treatment of women in the workplace. President Yoon Suk-yeol, who previously disavowed the feminist label during his election campaign, has raised controversial opinions linking feminism to the country’s low birth rate, contributing to societal challenges and gender disparities.
This landmark court ruling emphasises the importance of addressing misogyny as a motive for hate crimes and promoting gender equality in South Korea.