Women's Rights in North Korea

     The Republic of Korea (South Korea) has a woman president.  South Korea is a very modern, technologically advanced country that in many ways is even more "techno-savy" than the U.S.  North Korea on the other hand, is struggling to keep pace with the modern world and appears to spend all of its money on building weapons of war, especially its nuclear program, and feeding its standing army, one of the largest in the world.  Yet, when it comes to women's rights, in many ways North Korea is far ahead of its wealthier, more modern neighbor/enemy in the south!
     Immediately after the end of World War Two, shortly after Korea was partitioned, even before the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was established, a law was passed, one of the very first laws of North Korea.  It was called the Law of Sex Equality and it was passed on 30 July 1946.  This landmark law completely wiped out all previous accepted practices in Korea, practices which heavily favored men and essentially gave women a second class citizenship.  The new law declared that women were equal to men in all areas, all regards, and to discriminate against women would be punishable by law.  It was common practice in Korea prior to World War Two for men to have chubs (mistress or concubine) and this practice continued during the Japanese occupation and after the end of World War Two, in the South.  But in the North it was punishable by law to have a chub, and the communists meant business.  Also, under various laws, women never had equal rights with men when it came to marriage, divorce, education, or anything to do with finances.  Only men were allowed to maintain the all important family register which essentially made the person "legal."  Without being listed in the family register, you were a nobody, could not get an ID card or a passport, register in school, etc.  North Korea abolished the male favoring family register, they established a simply registry that could be used by both men and women!
     Along with the passage of the new law, there was constant encouragement from the government for women to get out of the house, so to speak, and be more involved.  The traditional women's role of staying home and being a mother and wife was not discouraged, but neither was it discouraged for women to seek out careers and work outside.  Education was heavily encouraged, even military service!  North Korean women are subject to compulsory military service just like the men.  Although some of the politically influential and powerful men still may have mistresses or participate in the kippumjo (sexual enslavement of young girls, chosen at a young age for the role), a system established for the powerful by Kim Jong Un's father Kim Jong Il, the vast majority of the male population can only read about such activity!  If there was one thing that the founder of North Korea and the grandfather of current leader did that was good, it was the passing of the Law of Sex Equality.  Kim Il Song's son may have perverted the law by establishing the kippumjo system for himself and the powerful party members, but at least for the vast majority of the male population the kippumjo is not available and women in general have equal rights with men.
     In contrast, despite the political freedom ejoyed by women in South Korea, they lag behind their North Korean counterparts in many areas when it comes to equality with men.  Rich chaebol families still practice the chub system and rich men often have "unofficial wives."  Sexual harassment in work place was a big problem and until recently nothing was done.  It was the woman president that passed new laws making sexual harassment punishable by law, a fairly recent thing in the South.  In the North it was punishable by law since 1946!  South Korea still uses the male controlled all important family registry as a key document for establishing identity, something North Korea abandoned long ago.  Recently President Park of South Korea tried to abolish the system and was met with so much resistance that she had to use a different approach....agreed to have certain aspects of the registry modified.  In short, she had to compromise!
     So, it is indeed odd, almost contradictory that a country such as North Korea would allow more freedom and rights to women than a "free" modern country such as South Korea!  But South Korea is still struggling with some of its archaic and strict family traditions and practices, traditions and practices that date back to the days of the "Hermit Kingdom," the Chosun Era!  South Korean women are constantly battling the old traditions and ways that hamper their ability to work and advance in the modern society.  President Park, the woman president has done much to help women of South Korea, but even she admits that it is not enough and there is still a long way to go....to even catch up with the communist North, when it comes to women's equality!  Go figure!