S.Korea presidential hopeful criticized for anti-gay comment

Sexual minorities are harshly stigmatized in South Korea and struggle with political visibility because a powerful Christian lobby keeps politicians from passing anti-discrimination laws. Among the five candidates who participated in the debate, only Sim Sang-jung, representing the minor Justice Party, openly advocates gay rights.

After the conservative candidate, Hong Joon-pyo, argued that gay soldiers were weakening the country’s military, Moon said he agreed.

Hong then asked Moon whether he opposed homosexuality, to which Moon replied, “I oppose.” When Hong double-checked, Moon said, “Of course.”

Hong represents the party of ousted President Park Geun-hye, who was arrested last month and now faces the prospect of a prison term over corruption charges.

He recently angered female voters over revelations in a 2005 memoir that he assisted a friend in a failed date rape attempt as a teen. The incident involved mixing the woman’s drink with a livestock stimulant, Hong wrote.

A watchdog has recently accused South Korea’s military of hunting down and prosecuting gay servicemen. That raised worries of more discrimination and hate crimes against sexual minorities.

Moon later in the debate said that he opposed “discrimination based on homosexuality,” but was also against legalizing same-sex marriage.

“Moon needs to offer an apology and a correction of his comments made on live television,” said Jung Yol, a gay rights activist. “What he said was clearly hate speech, and since he is the candidate favoured to win the election, his words can influence how people think.”

Lawyers for a Democratic Society, a group of South Korean human rights lawyers to which Moon once belonged, issued a statement denouncing the comments by Moon and Hong, saying the candidates revealed their ignorance on human and constitutional rights.

“We cannot look away from the issue as the candidates’ comments could encourage hate speech and discrimination against social minorities across the society,” the statement said.

South Korea’s constitutional Court formally removed Park from office on March 10. That triggered a 60-day presidential race. Opinion surveys favour Moon to win the May 9 election.

Kim Tong-Hyung, The Associated Press

by Canadian Press

S.Korea presidential hopeful criticized for anti-gay comment

Our Community