[Report] Moon, Mentioning 'Need for Anti-Discrimination Law' Near End of Term... Shouts It Daily in Front of the National Assembly

Alliance for the Enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act, 29th Day of Tent Protest in Front of the National Assembly
"Tired of 'Later' and 'Social Consensus'... Urging Enactment Within the Year"
President Moon Mentions Anti-Discrimination Act for the First Time in His 4 Years and 6 Months Term... "Vague Expression"
"If Not 'Making Excuses,' Demand Immediate Legislation from the National Assembly"

On the 6th, the tent of the 'Struggle Group for Enacting the Anti-Discrimination Act Within the Year' was set up in front of the main gate of the National Assembly building in Yeouido, Seoul. A banner with the phrase "29th day of the sit-in. Let's end the 'later.' The Anti-Discrimination Act comes first" is displayed. Photo by Joohee Kang kjh818@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] "No word on the Anti-Discrimination Act throughout the term...", "It's late, but please clearly demand it from the National Assembly now."

In front of the main gate of the National Assembly building in Yeouido, Seoul, there is a tent labeled 'Anti-Discrimination Act Enactment Within the Year? Protest Group.' The tent protest, which began on the 8th of last month, marked its 29th day on the 6th. Members of the Anti-Discrimination Act Enactment Coalition (Chaje-yeon), composed of about 160 civic groups, have been taking turns guarding this tent for about a month.

At around noon that day, activist Bae Gyeongnae from the Human Rights Education Center 'Deul' was holding a placard and continuing the protest in front of the National Assembly. Activist Bae said, "It has been 14 years since the Anti-Discrimination Act was first proposed to the National Assembly. Public demand is very high, but I came out because I thought it would be unacceptable if the 21st National Assembly couldn't pass it either," adding, "The National Assembly must quickly review and pass the Anti-Discrimination Act within this year. If there are issues, they should be discussed during the review process, but to postpone the review itself like this is unacceptable," raising his voice.

The Anti-Discrimination Act is a bill that prohibits discrimination against specific individuals or groups based on categories such as gender, disability, age, race, educational background, sexual orientation, and gender identity without reasonable grounds. Since it was first proposed by the Roh Moo-hyun administration in 2007, it has been repeatedly proposed and withdrawn over 14 years. In the 21st National Assembly, four enactment bills have been proposed, including the 'Anti-Discrimination Act' led by Justice Party lawmaker Jang Hye-young in June last year and the 'Equality Act' led by Lee Sang-min of the Democratic Party of Korea.

Jang's bill automatically went to the Legislative and Judiciary Committee (Legislation and Judiciary Committee), the relevant standing committee, after receiving 100,000 signatures in a national consent petition last June, but the committee decided at a plenary meeting on the 9th of last month to extend the review period until May 29, 2024, the last day of the 21st National Assembly.

President Moon Jae-in is speaking at the 20th anniversary ceremony of the National Human Rights Commission held on the 25th of last month at the Cost Hall of Myeongdong Cathedral in Jung-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, President Moon Jae-in recently publicly mentioned the necessity of enacting the Anti-Discrimination Act. At the 20th anniversary ceremony of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on the 25th of last month, President Moon said, "Twenty years ago, we failed to create a basic law on human rights or anti-discrimination, and there was a limitation in embedding human rights norms within the 'NHRC Act,'" adding, "This is a challenge we must overcome to become an advanced human rights country." Although President Moon used the euphemistic expression 'basic law on anti-discrimination' that day, it was interpreted as emphasizing the need for new human rights norms such as the Anti-Discrimination Act.

This is almost the only time President Moon has publicly expressed his position on the Anti-Discrimination Act. He pledged the Anti-Discrimination Act during the 2012 presidential election but withdrew the pledge in the 2017 election citing 'social consensus.' Even during his term, President Moon was reluctant to clearly state his position on the Anti-Discrimination Act.

He was also criticized for remarks that seemed to sympathize with the conservative Christian groups opposing the Anti-Discrimination Act. In September last year, at a meeting with Protestant figures held at the Blue House, President Moon reportedly said, "I understand the church's concerns about the enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act, so don't worry." In response, the Justice Party at the time expressed regret, saying, "We regret President Moon's action of readily responding to complaints opposing the Anti-Discrimination Act," and pointed out, "We hope this is not a declaration of sharing the position of blocking the enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act, which is a fundamental law to strengthen the human rights foundation of democracy."

Around noon on the 6th, a member of the Baekgyeongnae Coalition for the Enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act was holding a picket and protesting in front of the main gate of the National Assembly.
Photo by Joohee Kang kjh818@asiae.co.kr

As a result, criticism has also arisen toward President Moon, who mentioned the necessity of enacting the Anti-Discrimination Act only about three months before the end of his term. There are criticisms questioning what he has been doing for four years and six months after taking office and why he suddenly promotes the Anti-Discrimination Act ahead of next year's presidential election.

Kang Min-jin, leader of the Youth Justice Party, wrote on Twitter on the 26th of last month, "Presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung says the Anti-Discrimination Act is 'not an urgent matter,' but what is this double play where President Moon is promoting the Anti-Discrimination Act only now?" and criticized, "Is the Anti-Discrimination Act like a 'gye-ryeok' (a chicken rib) that is too precious to discard but too unpleasant to actually push forward?"

Activist Bae criticized President Moon's remarks, saying, "It was difficult to understand a clear position." He said, "There are bills proposed in the National Assembly under the names 'Anti-Discrimination Act' or 'Equality Act,' but (President Moon) mentioned it with the vague term 'basic law on discrimination.' So, whether he sent a signal to the National Assembly to hurry the enactment or not, it leaves room for ambiguous interpretation," adding, "If it is not to create a pretext to mention the necessity of enacting the Anti-Discrimination Act during his term, he should clearly order the National Assembly to enact the Anti-Discrimination Act even now."

Jang Ye-jeong, co-executive director of Chaje-yeon, also said, "It is extremely disappointing that he euphemistically referred to it as a 'basic law on anti-discrimination.' I think it is very late to mention the Anti-Discrimination Act now as if taking credit after having no apology throughout the term for his remarks opposing homosexuality. However, President Moon said, 'The remaining six months of the term is a long time and there is much that can be done.' If the National Assembly takes responsibility and works hard, six months is more than enough time to enact the Anti-Discrimination Act," she emphasized.