Lawmakers 'bombarded' with homophobic texts from Christians

Christians oppose new court chief nominee for supporting gay rights

By You Soo-sun

Conservative Christians sent thousands of text messages to lawmakers, opposing the nomination of Kim Yi-su as the court’s chief for his previous ruling against the military’s ban on homosexual activity.

Six lawmakers of the minority People’s Party on Wednesday said such texts should be directed at the Moon administration and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), Wednesday. They also urged the ruling party lawmakers to clearly state their stance on the constitutional provision that punishes military conscripts for homosexual activities.

The statement came as most of the texts have gone primarily to People’s Party members, as they hold the casting vote over Kim’s nomination. Thousands have gone to each member, pleading or threatening them to block Kim’s nomination.

One lawmaker said, “You are guaranteed to lose in the election if you are on bad terms with a pastor in your electoral district. Some say our party approval rating from the Jeolla provinces will be hurt if we fail to pass Kim’s nomination, but that’s not a direct threat to us.”

The lawmaker added, “Cheong Wa Dae and the ruling party are at fault for nominating Kim in the first place. We can’t go down alone.”

The religious groups’ opposition to Kim’s nomination reportedly grew when they found out about Kim’s vote against a Constitution provision banning homosexual activity in the military, according to a local newspaper. Opposition intensified as concerns over the possibility of legalization of same-sex marriage grew among the hardcore conservative Christian community, it reported. Many Christian groups have issued a statement opposing Kim.

Kim, who has served on the Constitutional Court's nine-member bench since 2012, voted against the constitutionality of this provision. It was the third time the Constitutional Court reviewed it, but it continued to be upheld after a six-to-three vote in favor.

Kim was tapped as the Constitutional Court chief in May, but the vote has been delayed due to a legislative boycott by the main opposition as well as the People’s Party’s calls to postpone it.