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 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
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
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 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
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
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

    BTS' Jungkook to drop 2nd solo single

  • 3

    PHOTOSTrapped along borders

  • 5

    Opposition leader Lee again proposes talks with President Yoon

  • 7

    BTS' Jungkook drops 2nd solo single

  • 9

    VIDEOBustling Chuseok: Namsan Hanok Village immerses visitors in Korea's rich traditions

  • 11

    Korea fails to be included on FTSE Russell's global bond index

  • 13

    Swimmer Kim Woo-min captures 3rd gold in Hangzhou

  • 15

    Poll shows 79% of young Koreans agree on need to improve ties with Japan

  • 17

    My left arm: how right-handed shooter won Asiad medal with left hand

  • 19

    S. Korea cruises past N. Korea in women's basketball

  • 2

    Korea wins gold in League of Legends competition; Faker tops podium

  • 4

    Trailblazing nonagenarian artist honored for redefining Korean fiber art

  • 6

    Pentagon's CWMD strategy document calls N. Korea 'persistent threat'

  • 8

    Are 'finfluencers' helping or harming investment community?

  • 10

    Yoon hosts Chuseok luncheon for Korean atomic bomb victims in Hiroshima

  • 12

    Apple, China met to discuss Beijing's crackdown on western apps: WSJ

  • 14

    Builders vie for leadership in modular construction

  • 16

    Second release of Fukushima wastewater to start next week

  • 18

    S. Korea eliminates N. Korea in women's table tennis doubles

  • 20

    Following successful Asiad debut, swimmer Hwang Sun-woo turns eyes to bright future

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
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Sun, October 1, 2023 | 06:53
Foreign Affairs
US embassy vows to continue openly promoting LGBTQ rights
Posted : 2022-07-11 17:09
Updated : 2022-07-11 20:10
Jung Min-ho
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
A homophobic sign is displayed near the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap
A homophobic sign is displayed near the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

That plan set to collide with local conservatives ― most avid supporters of Korea-US alliance

By Jung Min-ho

Surrounded by several police officers near the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Monday, a protester with a determined look on her face was holding a sign that read, "No Homosexual Ambassador to Korea." But another sign set up behind her puzzled some passersby, as it said "Reinforce S. Korea-U.S. Alliance."

The mix of these seemingly inconsistent messages shows the nature of the challenges facing the new U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg, who arrived in Seoul the previous day.

A homophobic sign is displayed near the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap
A demonstrator is surrounded by police officers protesting the appointment of new U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg in Seoul, Monday. Another sign behind her reads "Reinforce S. Korea-U.S. Alliance." Yonhap
Representatives of dozens of right-wing civic groups, including Anti-Homosexuality Christian Solidarity (AHCS) and the People's Alliance for Healthy Society, held a rally Friday in front of the embassy building against the appointment of Goldberg, whom they believe is homosexual ― a claim the embassy did not deny.

Since the Korean Peninsula was split in 1945, conservatives in the South have been the most avid supporters of the Seoul-Washington alliance. But since the embassy began to display a big rainbow flag in support of LGBTQ rights after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in 2015, many conservatives here have expressed their disapproval and disappointment over the issue, which is expected to remain a point of contention.

Speaking to The Korea Times, an embassy official did not provide clear answers about the new ambassador's sexual orientation nor about its plans for displaying the flag. In a statement, however, the embassy said its inclusivity policy for the rights of sexual minorities will remain the same.

"Advancing human rights for LGBTQI+ people is a stated foreign policy priority for the Biden administration," it said. "Like the rest of U.S. diplomatic missions around the world, the U.S. Embassy in Seoul will continue to openly support the human rights of LGBTQI+ individuals."

The embassy also noted it respects the rights of the protesters who have different opinions, saying it believes "the strongest weapon against hateful speech is not repression, but more speech that promotes tolerance."

A homophobic sign is displayed near the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap
Joseph Joo, the leader of Anti-Homosexuality Christian Solidarity, speaks during a rally against the appointment of new U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg near the U.S. Embassy building in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of Anti-Homosexuality Christian Solidarity

Joseph Joo, the leader of the AHCS and one of the organizers of the recent protest, said that the protesters were not there to support discrimination.

"We do not support any discrimination or violations of human rights against certain groups. But promoting certain values over others is a different story," Joo said. "At a time when the two countries are facing so many challenges, such as growing nuclear threats from North Korea, I do not understand why the Biden government made a decision that would certainly stir up controversy in South Korea … It would be against the national interests of the U.S."

In Korea, a largely socially conservative nation, very few Korean politicians support LGBTQ rights openly.
Moon Jae-in, the former president of the liberal Democratic Party of Korea and a former human rights lawyer, said during a 2017 TV presidential contenders debate that he "does not like" homosexuality when pressed to answer the question.

Harry Harris, Goldberg's predecessor, drew angry reactions from some conservatives for appearing at the Seoul Queer Culture Festival during his term. This was around the time when he was also attacked by many on the left for his hardline approach toward the North and his half-Japanese ethnic background.

Within this fiery context, it appears Goldberg will have some challenging work ahead of him. At his U.S. Senate confirmation hearing in April, he vowed to pursue "the comprehensive, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization" of North Korea, signaling a collaborative hardline approach with the Yoon Suk-yeol administration.



Emailmj6c2@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
miguel
wooribank
LG
Top 10 Stories
1Guide to Chuseok celebrations across Korea Guide to Chuseok celebrations across Korea
2Chuseok exodus begins ahead of extended 6-day holiday Chuseok exodus begins ahead of extended 6-day holiday
3Korea sees record-low births in July Korea sees record-low births in July
4Hyundai E&C to build upmarket apartment complex in Seoul's Gwanak District Hyundai E&C to build upmarket apartment complex in Seoul's Gwanak District
5[INTERVIEW] Risk-averse culture is forcing daring creators to flee showbiz INTERVIEWRisk-averse culture is forcing daring creators to flee showbiz
6Political battle intensifies after court rejects Lee's arrest warrant Political battle intensifies after court rejects Lee's arrest warrant
7Korea on track to prove esports prowess at Asian Games Korea on track to prove esports prowess at Asian Games
8Lotte focuses on health care, mobility to spur growth Lotte focuses on health care, mobility to spur growth
9DMZ Open Int'l Music Festival to be held in Goyang in November DMZ Open Int'l Music Festival to be held in Goyang in November
10Two Koreas trade barbs over nuclear war Two Koreas trade barbs over nuclear war
Top 5 Entertainment News
1[INTERVIEW] 'Coexistence of different art hubs across Asia is necessary': Art Week Tokyo Director INTERVIEW'Coexistence of different art hubs across Asia is necessary': Art Week Tokyo Director
2Trailblazing nonagenarian artist honored for redefining Korean fiber art Trailblazing nonagenarian artist honored for redefining Korean fiber art
3[INTERVIEW] With '30 Days,' Kang Ha-neul finds new level of comfort in acting INTERVIEWWith '30 Days,' Kang Ha-neul finds new level of comfort in acting
4Rwandan artists bring diversity to Seoul's art scene Rwandan artists bring diversity to Seoul's art scene
5[INTERVIEW] ONEUS returns as 'mermaid prince' INTERVIEWONEUS returns as 'mermaid prince'
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