Sung Jae-ki (Korean: 성재기; 11 September 1967 – 26 July 2013) was a South Korean civic activist best known for founding and leading the men's-rights group Man of Korea. He described himself as a liberal and a campaigner for the rights of men and male victims of crime. His public work combined advocacy for social services for men, direct-action protests, and critiques of government gender policy.
Activities and positions
Sung organized and led campaigns that addressed a range of issues he identified as affecting men: shelters and emergency support for male victims of domestic violence, assistance to men facing family-law disputes, and criticism of what he called one-sided gender policies. He and his organization demanded changes to institutions such as the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, arguing for reforms or abolition of agencies they viewed as biased against men. Supporters praised his focus on under‑reported male victimhood; critics labelled some of his tactics and rhetoric as anti‑feminist or provocative.
Organization and style
From 2008 until his death in 2013, Sung served as a prominent leader of the civic group Man of Korea (남성연대). His public persona blended street activism, media appearances, and online commentary. He used several pen names and nicknames in different contexts, including Shimheon (심헌, written variously as 審軒 or 心軒), Bluewolf (푸른 늑대, 靑狼), and colloquial aliases such as 똥발바쓰. These names appeared in his writings and on social platforms where he debated gender politics.
Controversies and public reaction
Sung's campaigns drew mixed reactions. Some civic groups and individuals welcomed attention to male victims and to perceived imbalances in social support systems. Others accused him of antagonistic rhetoric toward women and feminist movements, and of using sensational acts to gain publicity. Media coverage noted disputes over the management of funds and the financial health of his organization; reports about the size and nature of debt varied and were the subject of debate after his death. Contemporary commentary often framed Sung as a polarizing figure in South Korea's broader discussion about gender and rights.
Death and aftermath
On 26 July 2013 Sung Jae-ki went missing after an incident at Mapo Bridge in Seoul and was later found to have died by drowning. His death occurred amid reports of severe financial and organizational difficulties and immediately prompted further attention to his causes and methods. The event produced renewed discussion about the men's-rights movement in South Korea and about how activists on all sides of gender debates are treated by media, the public, and legal institutions. Investigations and commentary that followed examined both personal circumstances and the political context of his final actions.
Legacy and significance
Sung remains a notable — and contentious — figure in contemporary South Korean civic life. For some, he is remembered as an early organizer who highlighted male victims and gaps in social services; for others, he exemplifies the more confrontational wing of men's-rights activism. His life illustrates how debates over gender, state policy, and civil-society advocacy can become highly charged and personal. Readers interested in the broader debate around gender policy in Korea may consult civil-rights and human-rights discussions that place Sung's work in national and comparative context (human-rights, civil-rights, gender policy, liberalism).
For primary sources and contemporaneous reports, see materials associated with Man of Korea and archived news coverage; note that reporting varies and that some claims about finances and motives remain contested in public sources.