South Korea's government has released a plan to abolish the Gender Equality and Family Ministry, in line with a campaign promise made by President Yoon Suk-yeol before his election early this year.

The government released the plan on Thursday as part of a government reorganization proposal.

The ministry, launched in 2001 under a different name, has worked to expand women's rights and raise their social standing.

Yoon, who took office in May, promised during his campaign to abolish the ministry to win more support from young men who think it unfair that only males are subject to mandatory military service in South Korea.
Under the plan, the ministry's responsibilities would be transferred to the health and welfare ministry and other agencies.

South Korean government officials stressed that the proposed change does not mean the functions of the Gender Equality and Family Ministry would be downgraded.

They said that to realize speedy implementation of the change, they are considering asking lawmakers to draft a bill to revise a relevant law.

It remains to be seen whether such a bill would pass. The largest opposition Democratic Party holds a majority in the National Assembly, and some of its members have expressed concern that abolishing the ministry could weaken the functions it has fulfilled.