The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Netflix apologizes for filming 'Single's Inferno 3' in marine sanctuary

  • 3

    In-N-Out Burger pop-up store attracts record crowd

  • 5

    Calls grow for female flight attendants to ditch skirts for pants

  • 7

    Hamburger franchises having trouble in M&A market

  • 9

    Suspect in grisly Busan murder sent to prosecutors for further probe

  • 11

    Pyongyang seeks to portray rocket as science effort by admitting failure: experts

  • 13

    Small business owners urge stricter rules on migrant workers switching jobs

  • 15

    Nexon case reignites controversy over high level of inheritance tax

  • 17

    Pandas at Everland become tourist magnet

  • 19

    S. Korea succeeds in L-SAM missile interception test for 3rd time

  • 2

    BTS' RM named honorary ambassador of war-remains excavation agency

  • 4

    'BLACKPINK the Game' showcases group's unique charm

  • 6

    EXO's Baekhyun, Xiumin and Chen in dispute with SM over contract issue

  • 8

    Transgender cyclist looks to spark debate in historic appearance

  • 10

    Man gets five-year jail term for K-pop concert ticket fraud

  • 12

    Hallyu inspires Thailand to mull ways to export its culture

  • 14

    Police send girlfriend murder suspect to prosecution

  • 16

    From hardcore action to heart-throbbing romance, series to hit in June

  • 18

    Stray Kids drops 3rd LP with 'unique, enjoyable' lead track

  • 20

    JYP to expand partnership with US music label

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Forestry
Sat, June 3, 2023 | 17:03
Activist accuses Moon of hate speech
Posted : 2017-05-03 17:43
Updated : 2017-05-04 17:50
Kim Se-jeong
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
A rights activist for sexual minorities holding a rainbow flag approaches presidential frontrunner Moon Jae-in at the National Assembly in Seoul, April 26, to protest Moon's anti-gay comment during his election campaign event . /AP-Yonhap
A rights activist for sexual minorities holding a rainbow flag approaches presidential frontrunner Moon Jae-in at the National Assembly in Seoul, April 26, to protest Moon's anti-gay comment during his election campaign event . /AP-Yonhap

Yoo says Moon Jae-in's comments demoralizes sexual minorities


By Kim Se-jeong

A rights activist for sexual minorities holding a rainbow flag approaches presidential frontrunner Moon Jae-in at the National Assembly in Seoul, April 26, to protest Moon's anti-gay comment during his election campaign event . /AP-Yonhap
Yoo Kyeol
Yoo Kyeol, 37, came out as a lesbian in 2003.

Last week, she was among 13 detained after protesting the leading presidential candidate Moon Jae-in of the liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) for his statements against sexual minorities.

In an interview with The Korea Times, Yoo said the implication of Moon's comment is far greater than he thought.

"Our identity was denied so publicly by the leading candidate. Moon didn't realize how much impact his comment can have. This can pressure people to even take their own lives. I've lost many people around me. Many who took their lives experienced a moment of denial and it was too much to bear."

During a nationally televised presidential debate on April 25, Moon, a former human rights lawyer, said, "I don't like homosexuality." He was responding to one of his conservative opponents Hong Joon-pyo of the Liberty Korea Party (LKP) who wanted Moon to confirm his opinion.

"I can't believe Moon was ever a human rights lawyer," she said. "He could have just refused to answer. That way, we wouldn't be so upset."

Following the debate, Yoo also saw hate speech against homosexuals inundating the internet. "People now have no reason to be reserved because Moon said it already."

The activist said the surprise protest was inevitable. "We had to show our displeasure."

Yoo and her fellow activists went to the National Assembly on April 26 where Moon was supposed to speak and one stood facing Moon holding a rainbow flag.

"What appeared to be his bodyguard tried to drag her away, and we jumped in to help her," she said.

When the confrontation was over, Yoo and her colleagues moved aside to grab their belongings and depart, and that's when police surrounded them.

"Suddenly the police came, saying we violated the law," she said.

According to the Assembly and Demonstration Act, any assembly is banned within 100 meters of the National Assembly perimeter.

Yoo was among 13 taken to a van and driven to three different police stations. Yoo, along with five others, was brought to the Yeongdeungpo Police Station. She and two others were put into a room. They refused to talk and answer questions from the police. "Because we did nothing wrong," Yoo said. But she was able to use her cellphone.

At one point, Rep. Park Ju-min from Moon's DPK came to meet them. "He flattered and tried to persuade us to believe Moon didn't intend to hurt us," she said. "It was disgusting."

Altogether she spent eight hours there. Yoo could have stayed overnight but that meant the police would confiscate her phone. "Originally, we wanted to stay longer," she said. "But we decided to collaborate with the police investigation and be released because we thought it would be better to fight on the outside."

The incident changed her stance on the upcoming election.

"I didn't plan to vote for Moon. I didn't expect much from him anyway," she said. "But what he said can mean a retreat for campaigns for sexual minorities. I am not a big fan of Sim Sang-jung, but I will vote for her because she's been a strong supporter."

Sim from the Justice Party is the only one among the leading five candidates to publicly support an anti-discrimination law, which is strongly opposed by Christian groups. Moon only said he would seek social consensus on the issue during his presidency. So did Ahn Cheol-soo of the People's Party. Yoo Seong-min of the minor conservative Bareun Party and Hong opposed the law as well.

The Korean military recently filed criminal charges against 32 soldiers for their sexual identity ― another social flashpoint Yoo says threatens sexual minorities here.

"We simply have to continue to fight until we're recognized," she said.



Emailskim@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1Roland Garros 2023 Roland Garros 2023
2Airlines fiercely compete to acquire additional aircraft Airlines fiercely compete to acquire additional aircraft
3Seoul imposes sanctions on North Korean hacking group for role in space launch Seoul imposes sanctions on North Korean hacking group for role in space launch
4More banks offer daily interest payments on deposits More banks offer daily interest payments on deposits
5KAERI distances itself from Oxford professor's claim on Fukushima water KAERI distances itself from Oxford professor's claim on Fukushima water
6POSCO, GM expand joint EV battery materials investment in North America POSCO, GM expand joint EV battery materials investment in North America
7HMM tasked with preventing sale of Hyundai LNG to foreign firm HMM tasked with preventing sale of Hyundai LNG to foreign firm
8LG Chem joins Korean firms strengthening ties with Japan LG Chem joins Korean firms strengthening ties with Japan
9Hyundai Elevator launches AI, IoT-powered maintenance service Hyundai Elevator launches AI, IoT-powered maintenance service
10Indo-Pacific region highlighted as important for Korean economy's future Indo-Pacific region highlighted as important for Korean economy's future
Top 5 Entertainment News
1'HyeMiLeeYeChaePa' producer Lee Tae-kyung hopeful of second season 'HyeMiLeeYeChaePa' producer Lee Tae-kyung hopeful of second season
2How artist Michael Rakowitz resurrects lost past of Iraq through food packaging How artist Michael Rakowitz resurrects lost past of Iraq through food packaging
3[INTERVIEW] 'One Day Off' star Lee Na-young, director on creating subtle, feel-good series INTERVIEW'One Day Off' star Lee Na-young, director on creating subtle, feel-good series
4From hardcore action to heart-throbbing romance, series to hit in June From hardcore action to heart-throbbing romance, series to hit in June
5[INTERVIEW] Lee Jun-hyuk unrecognizable in 'The Roundup: No Way Out' INTERVIEWLee Jun-hyuk unrecognizable in 'The Roundup: No Way Out'
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group