'Anti-Discrimination Law Enactment' National Petition Reaches 100,000 Signatures... Referred to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee

"To be passed at the September regular National Assembly plenary session"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] A national petition for the enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act has received 100,000 signatures and was referred to the relevant standing committee, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, on the 14th.

The National Assembly announced that the petition exceeded the required number of signatures around 4:42 PM that day and was forwarded to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee around 5:20 PM.

The petition, which began on the 24th of last month, met the required support with 10 days remaining before the deadline. A national petition is automatically referred to the relevant standing committee if it receives 100,000 signatures within 30 days after the petition is made public.

The Anti-Discrimination Act, proposed by Justice Party lawmaker Jang Hye-young in June last year, clearly defines the criteria for discrimination based on gender, disability, age, language, country of origin, ethnicity, race, nationality, skin color, region of origin, physical appearance, marital status, pregnancy or childbirth, family and household form and situation, religion, ideology or political opinion, criminal record with expired sentence effect, sexual orientation, gender identity, academic background, employment type, medical history or health status, and social status. The 23 grounds for direct discrimination commonly apply to areas such as employment, goods and services, educational institutions, and administrative services.

The Anti-Discrimination Act Enactment Coalition stated in a press release on the same day, "Let us move forward vigorously again so that the Anti-Discrimination Act can be submitted and passed at the plenary session of the regular National Assembly in September."