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The #MeToo movement has shaken Korea over the last two years (Hasunuma and Shin 2019). Prosecutor Seo Ji-hyun's1 public testimony in January 2018 charged a former Ministry of Justice official with sexual harassment and catalyzed the #MeToo movement. Hundreds of Korean women came forward and spoke up about being sexually abused by powerful men. Social media platforms were flooded with hashtags such as #WithYou to support the movement and to express solidarity with victims of sexual violence. Women have taken to the streets for months demanding government action to prevent and punish sexual violence.
Many high-profile men have been accused of sexual violations and stepped down. In 2020, the mayors of Korea's two largest cities were inculpated, and the ruling party suffered a crushing defeat in the subsequent by-election. The magnitude and influence of the #MeToo movement in Korea is unprecedented.
This article answers why the Korean #MeToo movement is so powerful and influential. It argues that the #MeToo movement is strong when the victim or perpetrator is a famous figure, when powerful figures are continuously accused in a short period of time, and when there is social sympathy and support for the victim. Among these factors, the article emphasizes the third factor, that young generation of Korean women are the driving force behind the #MeToo movement. Their demands made it possible for the movement to extend beyond the mere denunciation of high-profile individuals to advocate for reforms of the structural gender inequality and entrenched sexism of Korean society.
EXPOSING THE GENDERED POWER STRUCTURE AND THE FALL OF POWERFUL MEN
The #MeToo movement was most notable in politics, arts and entertainment, sports, and schools in Korea. What is common in these sectors is that power and authority are concentrated among a small number of male leaders. High-profile male leaders in politics usually assume overarching authority over their staffers regarding employment, relocation, and promotion. For staffers and those who want to enter politics, “reputation” is crucial, and loyalty to male political leaders determines their reputation. Such unequal power relations can render staffers vulnerable to harassment, preventing them from criticizing the behavior of their leaders or offending the feelings of their superiors.
Women are particularly vulnerable in male-dominated organizations. Male political staffers are likely to share...