How can young feminists in South Korea foster solidarity within national borders through the usage of media, particularly in relation to the 4B movement, while also engaging with feminist counterparts in the USA?
On mai 11, 2025 by labo rechercheArticle and Research by :
Al Aoutmani Souraya
Jaouhari Camelia
Benzoubir Mayssane
SUMMARY :
INTRODUCTION :
● Background build up
● South Korean feminism
● The significance of digital media in modern day feminism
● Methodology overview
Section I : Historical and Social context of feminism in South Korea
● Confucianism
● Political landscape
● Emergence of feminist movements in response to gender based issues
Section II : Digital feminism in South Korea – From scandals, to activism to the creation of
movements
● Scandals : a catalyst for feminist awareness
● Online platforms as Arenas of Activism
● Reddit and digital solidarity spaces
● 4B movement (radical feminism online and off)
● Global impact (feminist “cross pollination”)
Section III : Transnational feminism : the migration from South Korea to American soil
● Shared struggles between SK and the U.S
● Global reach of 4B movement through media
● Voices and testimonies
Section IV : Challenges to feminist solidarity and possible solutions
● international feminist discourse
● Misinformation and online harassment
● Strengthening digital feminist networks, and encouraging healthy discourse along with policy recommendations for digital activism protection
CONCLUSION
Ressources
INTRODUCTION :
● Background build up :
South Korea is an east-asian country that is widely known for a plethora of facets that vary from an
aspect to another. It is a homogenous country with a distinct culture influenced by its geopolitical station that feeds its complex array of factors. It is characterized by a deeply rooted hierarchy and social structure that touches various aspects of Korean society, from age to status and relationships. These cultural norms were formed by Confucian values that emphasize respect for authority, hence the rigid norms.
Despite rapid modernisation and economic growth that skyrocketed South Korea’s position as a global leader, the traditional thinking and overwhelming norms persist, contributing to a society where social mobility is very stagnant with no imminent opportunities to grow independently, not relying on connections and one’s background.(1)
This directly impacts the gender positioning within this society, sparking frustration and discourse that soon turned to a battle within a new battleground called social media.
Media, both in its traditional and digital form, plays a main role in shaping the public opinion and further molding the cultural norms in South Korea. This country is a pioneer in the sophisticated digital infrastructures, and this made online platforms a primary space for information exchange, activism and community building.
● South Korean feminism :
Feminism in South Korea gained major visibility in recent years, particularly amongst young women that were not only shaped by the strict societal norms, but had an opening to the world and access to education to realise their situation and challenge patriarchal norms by advocating for equality. This movement however faces extreme skepticism and hostility by mainstream media, government institutions and opposite gender’s expectations. One of the most known movements of feminism that found its roots in South Korea is The 4B*, which is radical feminism and has emerged as a powerful wave of retaliation, gathering solidarity forces between women to reflect on the injustice and inequality. Participating in this form of activism makes the contributors marginalized
in this homogenous society, facing harsh harassment that penetrates through digital walls and translates itself to real life backlash, and the limited support makes this a more complicated challenge. Nevertheless, social media provides feminism a shell and a diversity of tools to organize, share and raise awareness in order to amplify their voices in ways that are so strong, it crosses national borders traveling from the far east to the center of the west:
The United States of America.
*4B movement : Movement that emerged between 2017 and 2019 on various media platforms. It refers to its defining four tenets which all start with the korean term “비” “bi”, meaning “no” : do not date men, marry men, have sexual intercourse with me and bear children with men.
● The significance of digital media in modern day feminism
Digital media is pivotal in the perception of feminist movements and it enabled a rapid flow of information that mobilized supporters and participants, further more enriching this solidarity between the female community and it allowed them to bypass traditional gatekeepers.
The question asked here is : How can young feminists in South Korea foster solidarity within
national borders through the usage of media, particularly in relation to the 4B movement,
while also engaging with feminist counterparts in the USA ?
● Methodology overview :
This article relies on a holistic multi-method approach, diversifying sources and gathering insight through :
❖ Case studies that had a catalytic effect on digital feminism, dissected in podcasts and numerous news outlets.
❖ Media analysis, with a direct dive into the heart of the battleground, by examining social media platforms such as Reddit and X (formerly Twitter).
❖ Academic literature review and article analysis, which will be synthesized to assess clearly this broad
discourse.
❖ Semi-structured interviews with South Korean feminists to capture authentic views and perspectives on solidarity-building and media use.
By using this methodology, we will be able to understand how young feminist leverage media to their advantage to gather attention to their cause and build solidarity within and beyond national borders, with a focus on the challenges and opportunities brought by the 4B movement in the contemporary South Korean context.
Section I : Historical and Social context of feminism in South Korea
● Confucianism :
“One aspect in Korean culture that has played a role in gender inequality is Confucianism.” According to Ashley Dupenti’s research paper as an undergraduate (1), South Korea’s gender norms have been deeply molded and shaped by one particular ideology that was widespread in east and central Asia : Confucianism. Historically, Confucius emphasized the importance of rigidity, patriarchal order and gender roles (1). The male authority in a family should not be questioned, which reinforced the obedient and docile nature of daughters, wives and most importantly, mothers(1). This patriarchal backbone made it diffcult for women to exit the subordination of men, and for a long time their autonomy, sexual freedom and participation in public life amplified this male dominance.(1)
After many years, under the supervision and authority of a father and a husband, the KWAU (Korean women’s association united), the mother conglomerate of 33 other associations used their strength in numbers to advocate relentlessly for women’s rights and reforms in legislations, which have been granted : a law against sexual violence and the protection of victims in 1993 (2), recruiting female candidates for political scenes in 1995 (2) (with 14 out of the 17 total being elected that year). Organizations such as this promoted maternity leaves, equal pay and workload and the most important achievement of all : the abolition of the family head system in 2005, after 10 years of battle. “Hoju” system, a.k.a “family-head”, the ultimate symbol of patriarchy, is now part of history (2).
Even though the legal landscape shifted majorly in recent years, South Korea has witnessed a surge in anti-feminism, particularly among young men and some traditional senior men. The backlash is an association of different combinations such as traditional values based on Confucianism(1)(2), economic pressure post Asian financial crisis, and an overall perception of feminism as a “plague” that would threaten male privileges and job market prospects. Many surveys conducted by field researchers back up this rise anti-feminism, for example in 2019 72% of men in their 20s responded that it would be better to break up with their girlfriend if she is a feminist (19), and in 2022, 56.8% of male university students answered that feminism is misandrist (19), and 21.6% answered that feminism is female supremacy (19). This enlightens us about the current mindset of the male demographic facing these societal changes.
Online communities such as “Megalia” launched in 2015 exposed this deep rooted misogyny through parody and trolling, and this phenomenon sparked fierce debates and the rise of counter movements (3). One movement in particular, which promotes the rejection of dating, marrying, childbearing and heterosexual intercourse, The 4B, has become a symbol of radical feminist resistance, but also a main target for criticism and hostility (4).
● Political landscape :
Politically, the landscape is dichotomous : The former president, Moon Jae-In promoted himself as a “feminist president” promising an expanded governmental corp in support for gender equality (31), but these political efforts again did not translate to widespread societal changes. Plus, the reverse discrimination method highlighting the unfair advantages for women have seen a major rise.
In recent elections, Yoon Suk-Yeol’s campaign was openly opposed to feminist causes as it presented plans to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. His eventual ascension to the presidential office highlights the growing sentiment of anti-feminism in South Korea. (32)
● Emergence of feminist movements in response to gender based issues
Despite a society against the independence of women, South Korea has had a rich history of feminist activism, and women knew early on the power of female solidarity and the power of group phenomenon (33).
Organizations such as the Korean Women’s Patriotic Society in 1919 or Rose of Sharon in 1927 combined two battles in one : the independence of the Korean lands and its women (5). After the liberation and the Korean War, feminist entities shifted their focus fully on the legal reforms and changes within the society (5).
The Asian Financial Crisis exposed disparities in the labor market, murder near gangnam station in 2016 exposed violence against the oppressed gender, digital movements like “Escape the Corset” challenged the objectification of girls and women (3) : South Korea today is marked by both diversity and extreme division, with mild to radical views and approaches and it continues to be as reactive as before regarding the ever evolving gender battle, leveraging modern tools such as digital spaces to amplify their voices and solve modern issues (4).
Section II : Digital feminism in South Korea – From scandals, to activism to the creation of movements
● Scandals : a catalyst for feminist awareness
Movements of activism stem from high-profile scandals that have played a pivotal role in raising feminist consciousness and causing public outrage strong enough to question society and its organisation. It starts with a small action, reported by a small news station, or a video recorded by a stranger to act as a whistle-blower and expose the depth of gender-based violence and the precariousness of women’s safety in both digital and physical spaces. The best cases highlighting these instances of injustice are the Burning Sun scandal and the Nth Room case.
Before covering an overview on the Burning Sun Case, we need to clarify some particular aspects of the entertainment industry. Everything important could be summarized in a couple of points :
● The rapid growth of this field was catalyzed by the implication of government officials and major company conglomerates, known by the korean term of “chaebols” like Samsung or CJ Entertainment, entering and dominating the market since the early 90s, and companies like these invested heavily in the entertainment industry, from films to music to even media production (6).
● The Idol culture is often compared to a factory where each human product needs an immaculate visual brand and immense talent, so this leads to a strict lifestyle influenced by heavy restrictions. Though, once launched to stardom, these handpicked individuals are treated like royalty, until the public deems their time as up (7)(8).
● The entertainment industry mirrors a broad spectrum of South Korea’s intense work culture, competitive fields, high expectations and a strong emphasis on discipline and perfectionism. It is toxic, with an unbearable pressure and little tolerance for mistakes or scandals : minor controversies like dating rumors could end fruitful careers (7)(8).
● K-fandoms are highly organized and passionate, and they play the role of judges and supporters. They
mobilize support for one individual or a full group. Though, as much enthusiasm and money they bring they also fuel parasocial relationships : these intense emotional bonds are double edged, ending in
backlash over personal matters (7)(18).
● This industry is a major economic force with a gross box office for South Korea films alone of 1.59 trillion Korean Won in 2015 (6).
Now that we are familiar with how the Korean society functions with individuals catered to the public eye, we can tackle the Burning Sun case.
Burning Sun is a nightclub in which a scandal revealed systemic sexual abuse and violence towards the female sex, illicit filming and distribution of illicit material without the consent of both parties, police collusion, victim shaming especially when it’s a woman in the equation. This case exposed how parasocial ties to celebrities could be weaponized against females, and this sparked a major widespread outrage and debates about justice and the fragility of gender norms. The celebrity in question is a man named Lee Seung-ri, and despite all the overwhelming evidence of incredulous acts of violence towards different women within his institution, he still has supporters and his sentence, compared to the many crimes committed with fraud on top was very light, and he walks free currently trying to regain his position, followed by an army of apologists (9)(10)(18).
Another case that caused an overwhelming public outrage leading to women joining forces is the Nth Room story :
It revolves around digital sex crimes, with involvement of blackmail and exploitation of women and girls (some were minors), through encrypted chat rooms. Social media in this particular scandal was the main tool and battlefield, where feminist mobilization was at its finest and demands for legal reforms were chanted. This case demonstrated the power of small screens, amplifying outcry and pressuring authorities to act (11)(12).
Both cases ignited national debate with fury animating mass protests and online campaigns urging a systemic change.
● Online platforms as Arenas of Activism
Social media is undoubtedly the main battleground, with a plethora of people with different opinions, though south korean women, feeling safe behind a screen and anonymous typing made the process of expression easier and accessible. The shift from traditional media to digital spaces such as Instagram, Tik Tok or X has transformed these spaces into tools for solidarity, organized discourse and modern grounds to express desire for change.
Formerly known as Twitter, X facilitates viral campaigns, trendy hashtags, and fast content browsing. Anything that ignites reaction and outrage is rewarded by the algorithm. It shunned a spotlight upon “troll feminism” (as seen with the megalia movement), and the act of “trolling” mirrors and subverts online misogyny. This made the wave of feminism accessible to young women and participatory (13)(14)(18).
For apps like Instagram, Tik Tok or Discord, these spaces value visual storytelling along with viral content, appealing to youth and enabling all fast paced attention mobilizing engagement. Feminist messages and trends can be shared quickly which raises awareness in a fast manner. Key hashtags like : #페미니즘 (feminism) /
성평등 (gender equality) / #MeToo (#미투) / #탈코르셋 (Escape the Corset movement) / #한국페미니즘
(Korean feminism) with thousands of users choosing them as description for their videos furthermore spreads this message of solidarity.
● Reddit and digital solidarity spaces
Then, we have Reddit, the ultimate testimony and argument based social media platform. This one, on the contrary of the other apps cited, values long form content and rich engagement, and it serves as a book of awareness where educational resources and personal stories are exchanged. The platform’s anonymous format offers a safe space for feminist organizations, with specifically dedicated spaces for this cause and this platform was used as a cross-border dialogue that allowed Korean feminists to share their struggles globally, reaching a broader audience (15).
Subreddits like r/AskFeminists, r/Feminism, r/Living_in_korea, r/WEST4BMOVEMENT or r/TwoXChromosomes count thousands upon thousands of members and active users daily, with posts that gather traction and spark discourse, and spaces like these encourage further more solidarity within the female community in digital platforms.
● 4B movement (radical feminism online and off)
Within these digital walls, one phenomenon in particular has seen unlimited spotlight : The 4B movement. The name « 4B » comes from its four key principles, all starting with the Korean word bi (비), meaning « no. », alongside main rules : no marriage with men (bihon) , no sexual intercourse with men (bisekseu), no dating (biyeonae), and no childbirth (bichulsan) (which is the most problematic aspect of all 4, since it decreases birth rates in South Korea). It emerged as a radical response to persistent gender inequality, and women adopting this lifestyle challenges patriarchal expectations and advocates for women’s autonomy (16).
Activists leverage all digital platforms to advocate freely for their cause, coordinate their offline actions and build supportive connections and communities that value feminine solidarity. Online spaces basically enable direct linking between different women, which translates to real life consequences and union. Utilizing modern tools to confront and disrupt traditional gender roles and female targeted violence makes feminist discourse more visible and accessible to a wider audience (17).
● Global impact (feminist “cross pollination”)
The 4B movement undoubtedly spread internationally, and Korean feminist ideas soon influenced Western feminist discourse and activism, especially in the USA.
Social media platforms facilitated the exchange and connection between Koreans and Americans, fostering feminist cross-pollination, and mutual support between two nationalities (20).
From scandals, to digital platforms, to movements to entirely different continents, Korean digital feminism is a significant force that manifested both domestically and internationally.
Section III : Transnational feminism : the migration from South Korea to American soil
● Shared struggles between SK and the U.S
Feminists in both Korean and American soil face common struggles and barriers, including a deep rooted patriarchy, political resistance, and the challenges of organizing in dichotomous digital environments.
Both societies, as far as they are, experienced pushback against modern feminism and the activism that manifested throughout different platforms and in real life gatherings, though censorship, surveillance and attempts to delegitimize activists prevail still.
In South Korea, it includes scrutiny of women identifying as feminists, and the rise of stereotypes such as all feminist women have short hair which resulted in violent encounters (21), meanwhile in the US, activists face state level surveillance and online harassment disguised as free speech, correlating also with the rise of “red pill” content that encourages young men degrading the status of women, and election of Donald Trump being a clear choice of extremism regarding this matter (22). This cross-national pattern highlights the fact that feminist activism is becoming a site of political contestation, regarding of where it is happening from the far east to the far west.
The patriarchal structures of both countries resist radical change, therefore online spaces became crucial for amplifying this ideological conflict, at the expense of safety and peace of mind as harassment and misinformation poison these debates (23)(24)(13).
● Global reach of 4B movement through media
The global reach of the 4B movement through social media, and its radical rejection for traditional norms regarding gender roles has resonated with the youth particularly in the US where media campaigns and rapid fire discourse inspired many young girls and women. This quick dissemination of its values fostered immense solidarity, and it encouraged the critique of gender norms in a complicated western context (25)(26).
● Voices and testimonies
Testimonies from a Korean feminist highlighting her personal struggles faced both within digital walls and daily life highlights the broad discrimination, and her insight delivers real data about Korean society in regards to feminism and the 4B movement. She wishes to stay anonymous, so for this particular paper we will be referring to her as Jane.
After being asked about her background, and experience as an active woman in the Korean society, Jane spoke about her humble beginnings, and the interest that the finance field sparked within her :
“My parents were concerned, especially because finance in Korea is still male-dominated. They worried about how difficult it would be for a woman to break in and they were right to some extent. Getting my foot in the door was hard, and gender definitely played a part in that. It’s a fast-changing and intense experience.
Sometimes, being a woman works in my favour for instance, I might be excused from late-night drinking sessions, which are still common in many professional settings. But the downsides are more significant. In finance, people are very conservative, and networking often matters more than actual ability. When you’re the only woman in the group, you’re often left out of those informal networks, which can really limit your opportunities.
You see it from the very beginning, there are so few women studying engineering or finance, and even fewer who end up working in those fields long-term. There’s this unspoken expectation that women should quit their jobs and have children by 30, or at the latest, 35. If they don’t, people blame them for so-called “deformed” babies, completely ignoring other biological or societal factors.”
When asked about the most common forms of sexism and misogyny in daily life, and how she feels about gender based salary gaps, she answered :
“It’s very common for older men to ask invasive questions about marriage or dating, as if a woman’s career is just a placeholder until she settles down. There’s this widespread expectation that women will eventually leave the workforce after marriage but then those same women are criticised for being “lazy” or not ambitious enough.
The salary gap is huge, and part of the problem is that many companies make it illegal or taboo to talk about salaries. Men often assume they deserve higher pay or more opportunities, even when women outperform them.
Some roles, especially in sales, are extremely unfair to women because they involve heavy drinking and even visiting brothels with clients to “build relationships.” That kind of toxic culture excludes women by design.”
During questioning, digital sex crimes and online harassment on different platforms was tackled, and it seems so that the Nth Room case had a big role in the public outcry, as quote :
“Back in the early 2020s, there was a huge public outcry over the Nth room case on Telegram, and it felt
like a turning point. But since then, people have become numb to it. These days, when a digital sex crime is reported, I often hear men saying things like, “How do you know she was innocent?” That kind of response shows how quickly empathy has faded. The legal system hasn’t evolved enough to properly address these crimes, and societal reactions are growing colder, even suspicious toward the victims.” Jane is an active member of the 4B movement, and she helped us learn more about her role in the participatory nature of this phenomenon :
“4B isn’t as clearly defined as many outsiders think. It’s not a coordinated movement that Korean women collectively launched, it’s more like a subconscious shift that emerged from deep-rooted gender imbalance. For decades, Korea had one of the highest female abortion rates, especially in the ’80s and ’90s. Now, more women are educated, working, and aware of how unfair the system is. So they’re quietly opting out.
Society has reacted very negatively. When people don’t get what they want, they often try to bring others down and make them question themselves, so they settle for less. That’s what’s happening here. Instead of addressing core issues like misogyny, the government focuses on superficial problems like the cost of weddings or housing, pretending that’s why people don’t marry. Yes these are very serious problems, but misogyny is the most pressing issue. Now, women not only have to do house work post marriage but also earn for the family along with their husband, who on average contribute very little to family activities.
The moment someone mentions feminism, they’re immediately labelled as an extremist someone who falsely accuses men or wants to “hate” them. That kind of overreaction shuts down real conversation before it even begins. Because of this, it’s incredibly difficult to have a productive dialogue around gender issues. Even many young women end up internalising misogyny. They distance themselves from feminism. Some just disagree with the values because they fear they won’t find partners if they say they are feminist. Many are afraid of being targeted or misunderstood. Online platforms have become a kind of refuge, a place where women can finally speak openly and share their stories without immediate backlash. Some women communities even ban men entirely, just to maintain that sense of safety. And the impact is real. In the past 15 years, we’ve seen Korean women evolve from men-pleasing, full-time homemakers to working professionals who aren’t afraid to live independently or stay single. That shift wouldn’t have happened without online spaces giving women the confidence to realise they’re not alone.”
Jane, whilst on an interview call, invited her friend who also wishes to stay anonymous, and for this reason we will be referring to them as John. John grew up attending an all boy’s school, so the testimony is very representative of the male surroundings and point of view. John spoke about memories in school, how younger boys would plot to film a female teacher, but not any kind of film, rather upskirt footage. Students around them would just think of women as pleasure and sexual delight rather than actual equals. John spoke about the problem with industries. As someone that has professional links with the tech industry and in parallel studying arts, they said that the interaction with the opposite sex in both career settings is different : in creative sectors women were welcome and people are more “open minded”, though in male dominated industries like tech, men would exclude women and make it harder upon them to join : it’s a close knitted circle.
These lived experiences are supported by statistical analysis revealing this persistent gender inequality. For example, regarding the significant wage gaps, the data showed South Korea’s female workers were paid on average 31.2% less than their male counterparts in 2022 (27), or regarding relationships In 2023, 83.4% of men born around 2002 responded that they would not like a feminist spouse and that same year, men ranked feminism as the number one thing marriage partners need to fix (19).
Such data underscores the importance, urgency and relevance of feminist activism, and justifies the widespread of movements such as 4B.
Section IV : Challenges to feminist solidarity and possible solutions
● international feminist discourse :
As stated previously, the challenges faced by South Korean and US based feminists are due to a deep rooted patriarchy, even with differing societal contexts.
In South Korea, digital feminism is relatively new and faces intense backlash from the male demographic, and many women are still hesitant to identify publicly as feminists due to fears of bearing the label of radical or social ostracism (1).
American feminists on the other hand, have a longer history with this ongoing social issue and somewhat of an acceptance from the public eye, but they too face growing resistance amongst young men and so to arm themselves modernly, they adopted a new style to fight for equal rights inspired by the South Korean wave (1).
Young women in both countries are increasingly progressive, while young men are moving to conservatism and anti-feminist positions. This situation is being exploited politically as seen with the election of “conservative” presidents such as Donald Trump or Yoon Seok-Yeol, and this deepens this social division furthermore, exploiting this polarization in ideologies.
Though, even with growing discourse and demand for equality, some women in the US call for the restoration of the “trad wife” role, so misogyny can also stem from women themselves that have been influenced by the manosphere, in the form of content consumed deliberately (34).
This results in growing hostility towards these female led movements, though it does not disencourage other feminist women to advocate for their rights and express their opinions on different media platforms.
● Misinformation and online harassment
Misinformation, trolling, targeted harassment…
While being crucial for the advancement of feminist ideology, digital spaces fuel hatred and become more and more litteral battlegrounds, with words and symbolism as missiles.
Gender issues are fiercely contested, and activists are subjected to smear campaigns, threats and sometimes doxxing. These patterns could be seen on the Asian and American sides of these platforms, and this misinformation that distorts the goals and spreads false narratives about women and gender equality hinders and delegitimizes the work of women and fractures solidarity with the male demographic.
Online harassment not only silences individuals, but it also discourages them from taking public action and a broader participation in these movements (29).
● Strengthening digital feminist networks, and encouraging healthy discourse along with policy recommendations for digital activism protection.
In order to address these challenges, numerous scholars and activists while writing or conducting interviews emphasize the need to strengthen feminist networks in the digital fields, to foster healthy online discourse (30).
Recommendations include building intersectional and transnational alliances that feed into the diverse experiences and needs within feminist communities, promoting a strong sense of digital literacy and ways to identify disingenuous and false information from true educational campaigns, and last but not least : establishing safe online spaces with moderation to share and create close knits without fear of harassment.
As for policy solutions, they are increasingly being discussed and in some case implemented : (29)
- Legal reforms advocate for stronger protection by law against online attacks, that cover verbal assault, doxxing and digital gender-based violence. This includes a broader discussion of digital crimes and the creation of clear definitions, effective reporting mechanisms and harsher penalties for perpetrators alongside a diligent protection of vulnerable victims.
- Platform accountability needs to urgently be applied and social media companies need to bear the responsibility of moderating harmful content, protecting user’s privacy and an overall enforcement of community standards.
- Incorporating a proactive government that adopts policies in support of digital activism, including funding feminist organisations or security training and public awareness campaigns may highly benefit this cause and promote healthy discourse that leads to fruitful outcomes.
CONCLUSION :
Feminism in South Korea and the United States is rapidly evolving, at the same pace as the growth of social media platforms, with young feminist women in South Korea leveraging these digital spaces to build connections and foster solidarity against challenges deep rooted within traditional gender norms.
The 4B movement, which rejects the idea of a traditional female role and refuses marriage, childbirth, dating and sexual intercourse with men has grandly empowered women to envision alternative futures with no patriarchal pressures within the Korean society, amidst backlash and vast criticism of the movement.
Through platforms like Twitter (X), Reddit, and Instagram, these activists reached, inspired and engaged with counterparts in the US where similar struggles persist around gender inequality with restrictive gender roles and a misogyny now encouraged by political institutions which made it systemic.
Digital interactions created a bridge allowing feminist communities to interact from both countries to exchange ideas, foster bonds, share strategies and create mutual support.
The widespread of the 4B movement and the harsh radical critiques sparked interest among young american feminists and therefore contributed to transnational discourse that greatly challenges traditional norms now on a global scale : the fight’s battleground is not longer confined within a country’s borders with the help of social media platforms, and it strengthened the solidarity of feminist voices.
The current situation raises important questions about how digital media platforms can be further sharpened as tools to protect activists from harassment, judgement and misinformation along with fostering inclusive environments for fruitful dialogue and in turn translating digital characters and words to tangible social and political changes. Moreover, it also highlights movements like 4B and the power of group phenomenon to influence feminist strategies worldwide, and it invites the exploration of how cross-cultural exchanges might remodel the future of gender equality and justice on a global scale.
Resources :
(1) https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1310&context=studentpub_uht Based on Ashely Dupenti’s research paper as an undergraduate from BYU / Paper found on the BYU scholar archive. Title : The War on Gender Equality: A Comparative Study Between Feminism and Anti-Feminism in South Korea and the United States. She states : “One aspect in Korean culture that has played a role in gender inequality is Confucianism.”
(2) https://wiki.ubc.ca/Feminism_in_Korea Nam, Jeong-Lim (2000). « Gender Politics in the Korean Transition to Democracy ». Korean Studies. 24: 94–112. / « Korea Women’s Associations United ». ↑ Hur, Song-Woo (2011). « Mapping South Korean Women’s Movements During and After Democratization: Shifting Identities ». In Broadbent, Jeffrey; Brockman, Vicky (eds.). East Asian Social Movements: Power, Protest, and Change in a Dynamic Region. New York, New York: Springer.
(3) https://internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article7662 Article titled “Women’s Movement in South Korea : How tobreak the structural Oppression” by Karen Yamanaka.
(4) https://www.tatlerasia.com/power-purpose/impact/gender-equality-feminism-south-korea Article titled “From MeToo to 4B and escape the Corset : What feminism looks like in South Korea” by Tatler T-Labs Team.
(5) https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/the-feminist-renaissance-in-south-korea/ Article titled “The Feminist Renaissance in South Korea” / analysis by Ruth Barraclough.
(6) https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/a-brief-history-of-k-cinema Article titled “A brief history of K-cinema” by Jae-Ha Kim and the help of University professors (Hye Jin Lee, Jee Heng Lee, Jiyoung Lee).
(7) https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2021/11/secret-k-pop-k-drama-success Article titled “The secrets to K-pop, K-drama sucess is its relatable appeal, says stanford scholar” by Melissa De Witte.
(8) https://www.marketplace.org/story/2021/11/18/how-korean-culture-became-a-global-phenomenon Article titled “How Korean culture became a global phenomenon” by Kristin Schwab.
(9) Documentaire : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EEp1q_iMYc (Burning sun scandal)
(10) Podcast : Rotten Mango Podcast : Burning Sun : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFLuckWYBWg
(11) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGMgp8sup0w (Nth Rooms) + Rotten Mango Podcast
(12) Campaigns » « Reclaiming Digital Spaces: Women in South Korea’s Online Activism »: (google
scholar)https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nth_Room_case / https://dockorea.com/nth-room-case/
(13) https://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/28959/ / Research paper titled “Troll feminism : the rise of popular feminism in South Korea” by Euisol Jeong.
(14) Links to some X (twitter) posts that garnered attention :
https://x.com/dyingscribe/status/1856960673189626194?s=61 /
https://x.com/allyjung/status/1485512006870441992?s=61 /
https://x.com/citrussalt/status/1743287026634612832?s=61 /
https://x.com/corine9000/status/1841704687948681266?s=61 /
https://x.com/hyuck4ever/status/1828770978618556716?s=61 /
https://x.com/corine9000/status/1855878327816614365?s=61 /
https://x.com/womensparty2020/status/1250041288818188288?s=61
(15) Links to some reddit posts made by women that garnered attention :
https://www.reddit.com/r/4bmovement/comments/1gntg6l/im_korean_feminist_and_im_so_glad_that_now_we/ /
https://www.reddit.com/r/TwoXChromosomes/comments/1gky5mr/to_my_fellow_women_in_the_us/ /
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskFeminists/comments/1bv7htj/will_misogyny_here_in_the_united_states_escalate/ /
https://www.reddit.com/r/Living_in_Korea/comments/1ez2tek/what_is_with_the_feminism_hate_or_general_dislike/
(16) https://yonsei.elsevierpure.com/en/publications/the-4b-movement-envisioning-a-feminist-future-within-a-non-reprod / Yonsei University research paper on the 4B movement by Euisol Jeong and Jieun Lee.
(17) https://pureportal.coventry.ac.uk/en/publications/is-digital-feminism-as-public-feminism-in-south-koreac /Research paper by Jongmi Kim.
(18) https://scholar.dominican.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1013&context=history-senior-theses Research paper by Cece Trifoso on “Examination of Women’s Rights in South Korea: from “New Women” to Female idols.
(19) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminism_in_South_Korea Statistics and surveys done on the male demographic in South Korea.
(20) https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/15/4b-south-korea-feminist-movement-donald-trump-election-bac klash Article by the guardian on the 4B movement and its impact on the US after the elections and Donald Trump’s win in 2024.
(21) https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67330628 Article by the BBC reporting on an incident of a South Korean man attacking a female shop clerk, whom he thought was a feminist because of her short hair.
(22) https://msmagazine.com/2017/08/16/trump-red-pill/ article by Dayton Uttinger on “Trump and the Red Pill”
(23) https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/03/world/what-is-patriarchy-explainer-as-equals-intl-cmd/index.html article by CNN defining the “patriarchy” concept.
(24) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/384441705_Misogyny_and_Gender_Conflicts_in_South_Korea Research paper hy Kim Jimin on Misgyny and Gender Conflict in South Korea, with an emphasis on the ongoing patriarchy and systemic marginalization of women.
(25) https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/the-rise-of-4b-in-the-wake-of-donald-trumps-reelection article by Tammy Kim on the “Rise of 4B in the wake of Donald Trump’s reelection”
(26) https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/09/us/4b-movement-trump-south-korea-wellness-cec article published by CNN, by Harmeet Kaur on the 4B movement.
(27) https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/south-korea-s-gender-pay-gap-worst-in-oecd
(28) https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/07/01/south-korea-gender-divide-feminism-00155207 Polotico magazine article by Catherine Kim, titled “Young Men are swinging hard right in korea. It could be a preview for america”
(29) https://accesson.kr/kj/assets/pdf/28100/journal-61-4-75.pdf Research paper by Jinsook Kim on “The resurgence and popularization of Feminism in South Korea : Key issues and challenges for contemporary feminist activism”
(30) https://accesson.kr/kj/assets/pdf/28100/journal-61-4-75.pdf discussion recap on “gender equality and women’s rights in South Korea”
(31) https://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/policies/view?articleId=211571 article published by Korea.net on President Moon’s political ideas towards women as a main component in Korean society.
(32) https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/07/outcry-as-south-korean-president-tries-to-scrap-gender-equality-ministry-to-protect-women Article published by The Guardian on Yoon Seok Yeol’s plans to ban the Ministry of gender equality.
(33) https://eastasiaforum.org/2022/12/09/south-koreas-misogyny-problem/ Katharine H.S. Moon’s article, published by East Asia forum on the current misogyny problmùen in South korea.
(34) https://www.theswaddle.com/what-s-with-all-the-tradwife-content Article by Rohitha Naraharisetty on the tradwife content pushed by social media algorithm.
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