LGBTQ+ organizations in South Korea are demanding the resignation of Lee Choong-sang, a human rights commissioner at South Korea’s Human Rights Commission, following a homophobic remark he made about queer men and anal sex. The controversy arose when Lee included the remark in a draft resolution concerning regulations on the hair length of servicemen, dismissing claims that requiring military personnel to have short hair infringes on their human rights. In his statement, he drew an analogy to anal sex, suggesting that queer men who engage in such acts willingly assume a “female role,” leading to their physical harm and dependency on diapers. Although Lee’s view was not included in the final published decision, it has sparked significant backlash.
Rainbow Action, a prominent coalition of LGBTQ+ groups, joined forces with the HIV and AIDS Human Rights Activists Network and the Human Rights Policy Response Group to protest outside the National Human Rights Commission. The activists condemned Lee’s speech and filed a complaint, calling for his immediate resignation. Prior to the protest, the groups released a joint statement expressing shock and highlighting Lee’s continuous promotion of hate speech against LGBTQ+ individuals. They argued that his attempt to include such a statement in an official resolution demonstrates his lack of qualifications as a human rights commissioner and denounced it as irrelevant to the issue at hand.
South Korea continues to lag behind other countries in LGBTQ+ rights. Despite homosexuality being legal, comprehensive national laws protecting queer South Koreans from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity are still absent. Same-sex marriage remains illegal, and queer couples are unable to expand their families through adoption. Additionally, LGBTQ+ students face discrimination in schools, as documented by a recent Human Rights Watch report. The armed forces also prohibit queer relationships, while religious groups exert significant influence over national politics, often condemning the LGBTQ+ community.
In the face of mounting anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, a burgeoning Pride movement has emerged in South Korea to combat discrimination. The Seoul Queer Culture Festival (SQCF), an annual event held at Seoul Plaza since 2015, has been a platform to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community. However, organizers faced a setback when they were denied access to the venue this year in favor of a Christian youth concert organized by the CTS Cultural Foundation, known for its opposition to LGBTQ+ identities and the Pride event. Despite the obstacle, SQCF organizers have vowed that the festival will persist.
In this way, LGBTQ+ activists in South Korea are mobilizing to address ongoing challenges and advocate for equal rights and respect for all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.