"Desperate Words for Minorities" Choo-Prosecutor Clash Over Frequent 'Coming Out', Is This Okay?

Conflict between Prosecutors and Police leads to indiscriminate use of 'Coming Out'... Rainbow Action "Terminology's Historical Integrity Damaged"
Experts "A Crucial Term for Minorities... Urge Restraint in Political Exploitation"

A post by Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae on Facebook on the 29th of last month directly targeting a prosecutor who criticized her. / Photo by Minister Choo Mi-ae Facebook capture

[Asia Economy reporters Han Seung-gon and Kang Joo-hee] Amid escalating conflicts between Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae and prosecutors, criticism is emerging over the indiscriminate use of the term 'coming out,' which refers to sexual minorities revealing their sexual orientation or gender identity themselves. It is pointed out that this may diminish or distort the meaning and historical significance of minority rights movements.

Experts expressed concern that indiscriminate use could dilute the original meaning of the word.

On the 29th of last month, Minister Choo publicly criticized prosecutor Lee Hwan-woo of Jeju District Prosecutors' Office, who criticized prosecutorial reform, by saying he "came out" on her Facebook, adding, "Reform is the only answer." In response, some prosecutors left comments on the internal prosecution bulletin board 'Eprose' protesting Minister Choo's public criticism of rank-and-file prosecutors, saying, "I will come out too."

As Minister Choo and rank-and-file prosecutors continued their verbal exchange using the term 'coming out,' political circles and the media also used the term 'coming out' as mentioned by the minister and prosecutors.

Additionally, former Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Kang Ki-jung wrote on his Facebook on the 30th of last month, "Is the prosecutors' 'I will come out too' a trend?" and told prosecutors, "The public is waiting for a 'coming out of self-reflection.'"

In response to this situation, human rights organizations pointed out that the use of this term was inappropriate. The Rainbow Action Against Sexual Minority Discrimination (Rainbow Action), a domestic coalition of sexual minority organizations, posted on their Facebook page on the 30th of last month, stating, "After Minister Choo wrote her post, prosecutors' comments saying 'I will come out too' appeared on Eprose, and related reports followed. This all contradicts the original meaning of coming out and damages the historical significance of the terminology created by sexual minority rights movements."

Rainbow Action explained, "Coming Out originates from the phrase 'coming out of the closet,' meaning that sexual minorities reveal their sexual orientation or gender identity themselves by opening the door and coming out of the closet." They added, "We urge Minister Choo, the prosecution, and the media to be cautious about indiscriminate use of the term."

Photo by Screenshot from the Facebook page of the Sexual Minority Federation 'Rainbow Action Against Sexual Minority Discrimination'

As Rainbow Action criticized, there are certain standards for the use of the term 'coming out' in media reporting. The Human Rights Reporting Guidelines manual, established by the National Human Rights Commission and the Korea Journalists Association in September 2011, states regarding the term coming out, "Since it means sexual minorities affirming themselves and confidently revealing their gender identity, care should be taken not to use it in contexts such as confessing to criminal acts."

The manual provides an example of incorrect usage of coming out: "I lied about having a college degree all this time. My wife also thought I graduated from college. So I 'came out' and visited my alma mater that had expelled me." Although used in the context of revealing a hidden fact, if the term is not used in the context of sexual minorities revealing their gender identity themselves, its use should be restrained.

The Justice Party also raised its voice on the 30th of last month regarding this controversy, urging "the cessation of the use of the term 'coming out,'" stating, "It damages the historical significance of the sexual minority rights movement. Especially Minister Choo and the prosecution should have a higher sensitivity to human rights."

Experts pointed out that indiscriminate use of the word could dilute its original meaning.

A cultural critic said, "For sexual minorities, coming out is a desperate act, but it is often used in daily life as if it simply means revealing something. When political circles and others politicize and indiscriminately use this expression, it dilutes the original meaning of the word. This can be very uncomfortable for sexual minorities."