South Korea’s hostility to LGBT issues is a failure to uphold basic human rights



Opinion South Korea’s hostility to LGBT issues is a failure to uphold basic human rights The ROK is out of step with its Western peers even Asian neighbors and must reflect on how it treats sexual minorities Philip TurnerMarch 19, 2024 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Rainbow flags are flown by the crowd during the Jeju Queer Culture Festival in 2017 \| Image: Justice Party LGBT Committee via Twitter South Korea’s head-in-the-sand approach to LGBT rights is a stark human rights failure. It is glaringly inconsistent with President Yoon Suk-yeol’s commitment to human rights globally and out of step with its Western peers. Now, even its Asian neighbors are leaving it behind. During my five years in South Korea as an ambassador, I encountered many LGBT Koreans: men and women, young and old, business people, diplomats, professors and homemakers. Nearly all felt forced to hide their sexuality, their partners and their true selves. South Korea’s head-in-the-sand approach to LGBT rights is a stark human rights failure. It is glaringly inconsistent with President Yoon Suk-yeol’s commitment to human rights globally and out of step with its Western peers. Now, even its Asian neighbors are leaving it behind. During my five years in South Korea as an ambassador, I encountered many LGBT Koreans: men and women, young and old, business people, diplomats, professors and homemakers. Nearly all felt forced to hide their sexuality, their partners and their true selves. Get 30 days of free access to KoreaPro Full access to all analysis The KOREA PRO newsletter, every business day Daily analysis on the top story of the day The ability to suggest topics for coverage by our specialist team Be smart about South Korea Get full access to expert analysis and opinion. Start now No charges during your trial. Cancel anytime. A paid subscription will start after 30 days. © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Briefing Start your day with the South Korea stories that matter most – as selected by And how should we address you in correspondence? One more step! Please check your inbox, for an email we just sent you, and click on the confirmation message in it to get subscribed to our Daily Briefing. LATEST ANALYSIS 01South Korea faces political crisis as ruling party blocks impeachment vote 02Yoon’s martial law echoes authoritarian playbook but fails in modern Korea 03Martial law erodes trust in South Korea’s president and democratic institutions 04Yoon Suk-yeol’s fate uncertain as impeachment vote fails to move forward 05Timeline: The swift rise and fall of martial law in South Korea 06South Korea grapples with fallout from president’s martial law declaration 07Ukraine’s arms request puts South Korea in a diplomatic and logistical dilemma 08South Korea’s bid to overhaul corporate governance faces key enforcement hurdles

Opinion

South Korea’s hostility to LGBT issues is a failure to uphold basic human rights

The ROK is out of step with its Western peers even Asian neighbors and must reflect on how it treats sexual minorities

Philip TurnerMarch 19, 2024

South Korea’s hostility to LGBT issues is a failure to uphold basic human rights

Rainbow flags are flown by the crowd during the Jeju Queer Culture Festival in 2017 | Image: Justice Party LGBT Committee via Twitter

South Korea’s head-in-the-sand approach to LGBT rights is a stark human rights failure. It is glaringly inconsistent with President Yoon Suk-yeol’s commitment to human rights globally and out of step with its Western peers. Now, even its Asian neighbors are leaving it behind.

During my five years in South Korea as an ambassador, I encountered many LGBT Koreans: men and women, young and old, business people, diplomats, professors and homemakers. Nearly all felt forced to hide their sexuality, their partners and their true selves.

Get 30 days
of free access to
KoreaPro

Full access to all analysis
The KOREA PRO newsletter, every business day
Daily analysis on the top story of the day
The ability to suggest topics for coverage by our specialist team

Be smart about South Korea

Get full access to expert analysis and opinion.

Start now

No charges during your trial. Cancel anytime. A paid subscription will start after 30 days.

South Korea’s hostility to LGBT issues is a failure to uphold basic human rights

Get 30 days
of free access to
KoreaPro

Be smart about South Korea

Get full access to expert analysis and opinion.

LATEST ANALYSIS

Similar Articles

About the Author

Philip Turner

South Korea’s hostility to LGBT issues is a failure to uphold basic human rights

Get 30 days of free access to KoreaPro

Be smart about South Korea

Get full access to expert analysis and opinion.

Start your day with the South Korea stories that matter most –

as selected by

One more step!

LATEST ANALYSIS

Similar Articles

About the Author

Philip Turner

Get 30 days
of free access to
KoreaPro

Start your day with
the South Korea stories that matter most –