Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
US embassy in Seoul takes down rainbow flag
Members of Christian groups protest against the U.S. Embassy's practice of flying the rainbow flag. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
By Jung Min-ho
By Jung Min-ho
U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris
The U.S. Embassy in Seoul has taken down a large rainbow flag from the mission building, after displaying the flag for three weeks, apparently in support of “LGBTQ Pride Month.”
The move comes amid media reports that the U.S. State Department disapproved all embassy requests to fly the popular symbol of gay rights outside their buildings this year ― a revelation suggests that displaying the flag was U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris' own decision.
“This is a category one insurrection,”
quoted a U.S. diplomat as saying.
The practice by U.S. embassies, which started during the Barack Obama administration, now requires top-level approval from the State Department.
In 2011, the Obama administration directed government agencies overseas to promote LGBT rights.
But after Mike Pompeo, an evangelical Christian, became secretary of state, things started to change: diplomats were required to obtain permission from the State Department's Office of Management to fly a rainbow flag.
In fact, the practice has caused controversy among members of the Republican Party, which has long opposed LGBT rights, as well as protests in other countries, including Korea.
Franklin Graham, a pastor and prominent Trump supporter, said the rainbow flag could be offensive to many people.
“The only flag that should fly over our embassies is the flag of the USA,” he wrote
. “The gay pride flag is offensive to Christians and millions of people of other faiths, not only in this country but around the world.”