Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Rapacious Mr. Batstove]

Korea's "best mum" chosen as face of new currency
Reuters | Tuesday, 6 November 200

South Korea's central bank chose the face of Korean motherhood as the first woman to be featured on its banknotes, but women's rights groups say the selection only reinforces sexist stereotypes.

Shin Saimdang, known for raising a famed Confucian scholar and having a deft hand in painting, will grace the new 50,000 won (26 pound) note when it debuts in early 2009, the Bank of Korea said.

Women's groups say her selection bolsters the idea that mothers should stay at home and devote their lives to their children's education.

Shin, whose nickname is "wise mother", gave birth to the 16th-century scholar Yi I, also known by his pen name Yulgok. She is celebrated for placing her son on the path to fame.

A paper on a government Web site describes Shin as "the best example of motherhood in Korean history", while the central bank said she was selected "to promote gender equality and women's participation in society".

Women's rights groups acknowledge Shin as an important figure but have been pushing for other female candidates, who have risen to positions of power and respect in a male-dominated society, to be placed on the new note.

"Although women nowadays are highly capable and educated, the idea of 'wise mother and good wife' holds them down," said Kwon Hee-jung, secretary general of the women's rights group IF.

More than a dozen women's rights groups plan to protest against the bank's decision.

Yulgok's face is already on the 5,000 won note. Shin will appear on the second-highest valued note after the new 100,000 bill is also issued in 2009.

[aarontendo]

Seeing as how women here weren't allowed to do a whole hell of a lot except be a good mother and wife, I don't find it a problem to feature this chick on the new bill.

[Rapacious Mr. Batstove]

If Korea wasn't such a patriarchal society I would understand the decision. If they wanted to reinforce gender equality, they should select a female candidate with qualities similar to that of other male banknote representatives. Selecting someone famous for nothing else than being wise and raising a good son really doesn't inspire much these days.

[Young FRANKenstein]

[nomad-ish]

if it weren't for all the cool mobile phones, etc. i'd swear i was living in the '50s

[Scotticus]

That's actually funny that Korea's sexism and nepotism even extends to who gets put on their money. They couldn't pick a women who wasn't already related to someone on another bill?

[jinju]

So the OP's position is that raising children is something unworthy of being honored? I found his whole argument as ludicrous as it is misogynistic. This especially caught my eye

[nomad-ish]

[Ya-ta Boy]

Excuse me while I feel nostalgic for those immense piles of Won when I used to get paid in cash. Oddly fun, that was.

[Scotticus]

[Smee]

Jesus Christ, what other woman would they select? It's not like Korea has ever had a surplus of notable women. Chunhyang, the unrequited lover? Nongae, the heroic gisaeng? I think it's a fine choice. Instead of complaining, perhaps women's groups should spend that time and energy on actually producing women who contribute something.

And since when is motherhood/parenthood something to be ashamed of? Jesus Tapdancing Christ.

[jinju]

Whats the average birth rate in Korea these days? 1 child per couple? Guess what, in a generation or two there wont be enough people to fill all those glorious jobs that according to you misogynysts are so much superior to being a mother. And no, she wasnt JUST a mother, she was a good mother. Anyone can be a mother, but anyone can be a doctor or a lawyer or whatever. the difficulty is being GOOD at what you do. Korea needs mothers, Korea needs GOOD mothers. Anyone can write something on dave's, but as this thread so PAINFULLY shows, not everyone can write something insightful and intelligent.

[aarontendo]

I was thinking they could have used Queen Min, but yeah that would probably just open up more anti-Japanese feelings.

[blaseblasphemener]

Most women that are feminists are lesbians, or college students. Once most women see their friends getting married to some rich dude and staying home and having babies (hopefully with the assistance of a nanny) they become jealous.

Most women want a man to take care of them, period. They don't want the responsibility of home and job. They want the man to take care of bringing in the money. 90% of women would choose to have a rich husband and stay home with the kids. That's why you never see pretty feminists, because pretty women have options, and the option they chose is to land a rich husband.

[Scotticus]