Most Controversial Statements on Facebook Still 'True,' Says Official
Expresses Regret Over 'Comfort Women Payment' Remark
Kim Seong-hoe, former Presidential Office Secretary for Religion and Multicultural Affairs. Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Se-eun] Former Presidential Office Secretary for Religion and Multicultural Affairs Kim Seong-hoe, who resigned, refuted and explained criticisms surrounding him through Facebook.
Regarding his statement that "homosexuality can be treated like smoking," he reiterated, "For those who mistake acquired homosexuality, not innate, as an instinct, just as smoking is not an instinct and smokers are not patients, homosexuality can also be treated."
He also asserted that his comment "Half of the women in the Joseon Dynasty were objects of sexual pleasure" was "the truth."
He then pointed out the ratio of slaves to the population from the Unified Silla, Goryeo, and Joseon periods, explaining, "The slave mother law was briefly changed during King Sejo's reign but was fully established during King Jeongjong's reign," and "After that, Joseon became a society where about 42% of the population were slaves."
Former Secretary Kim said that looking back on our history is not an insult to it, asking, "Is it not true that Germans are not blamed for talking about the realities of the Nazi era and the backwardness of the medieval period when witch hunts were conducted?"
He also claimed that only 4% of children who entered Korea mid-way, brought in by foreign spouses married to Koreans, are truly mid-way entrants in the genuine sense.
"Conduct a real survey on the actual conditions of mid-way entrant children," he urged, emphasizing, "I am someone who operated Seoul's Sijang Multicultural School, which educated mid-way entrant children."
He argued that Korea's multicultural policy should not be approached from a "paternalistic" perspective. He questioned, "Why does Canada, which is prosperous and has vast land, convert immigrant qualifications into a point system?" and explained that accepting high-quality human resources does not degrade multiculturalism.
Former Secretary Kim also stated that he has no acquaintance with Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church and that he himself is not a Christian. He said that when the Free Daily was launched, Chief Editor Choi Young-jae, whom he knew well, asked him to write articles under the title of guest editorial writer.
However, regarding his remarks on the issue of the agreement on Japanese military comfort women victims, he admitted that using the expression "delayed payment" was inappropriate and said he still reflects on it.
Meanwhile, former Secretary Kim criticized the media that reported controversies related to him as "the primary culprits ruining the Republic of Korea."
He claimed, "Politicians divide the people, but journalists distort the people's thoughts and make them intellectually disabled," adding, "Therefore, journalists in Korea are the primary culprits ruining the country, followed by politicians."
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