Lee Young-hoon, President of Hankyoreh Education Association, "Need to Motivate Childbirth... Must Provide Housing"

Opposition to Enactment of Anti-Discrimination Law: "Concerns It May Become a Reverse Discrimination Law Against the Majority"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seomideum] Lee Young-hoon, the senior pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church and the representative chairman of the Korea Christian Federation (HanGyoChong), a conservative Protestant coalition, introduced efforts to overcome the low birthrate issue as a key task for this year.

At a New Year press conference held on the 12th at a restaurant in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Pastor Lee argued that strong measures should be implemented to overcome the low birthrate problem, such as providing housing to families who have many children.

Currently, Yoido Full Gospel Church, where Pastor Lee is serving, is conducting unprecedented birth encouragement support. According to the church, they provide birth incentives of 1 million won for the first child, 2 million won for the second, 5 million won for the third, and 10 million won for the fourth child to church members. Pastor Lee stated that through this, "the number of infants and toddlers in the church has tripled," and "there are even people who have had 13 children."

Pastor Lee emphasized that "this is no longer enough, and houses must be provided," stressing the need for practical motivation measures that move people's hearts. HanGyoChong plans to establish a separate committee to address the low birthrate issue.

They will also focus their efforts on blocking the passage of the Anti-Discrimination Act currently pending in the National Assembly. Pastor Lee said, "It is natural that everyone's human rights are respected," but added, "I am concerned that excessive laws are being created to protect sexual minorities, resulting in reverse discrimination laws where the majority are discriminated against."

In this regard, they plan to continue legislative response activities such as demanding the re-amendment of the Private School Act and opposing amendments to the Framework Act on Healthy Families this year. Previously, HanGyoChong filed a constitutional complaint last year against the amended Private School Act, which mandates private schools to entrust written exams to the education office when hiring new teachers, arguing that it infringes on the freedom of private school management, and they are demanding a re-amendment of the law. They also criticize the amendment to the Framework Act on Healthy Families as having "the intention to dismantle the traditional family concept and to recognize de facto marriages and same-sex marriages as having equal status to constitutional heterosexual marriage."

They will also carry out humanitarian projects for North Korea. Pastor Lee stated, "We will strive to ensure that projects such as the Pyongyang Heart Hospital, tree planting, and humanitarian support for infants and young children proceed well." The Pyongyang Heart Hospital is a medical facility that the late Pastor Cho Yong-gi of Yoido Full Gospel Church agreed to build in Pyongyang with the North Korean Korean Christian Federation (Jogryeon) in 2007. Construction began at the end of 2007 but was halted after the Cheonan incident in 2010.

Additionally, he expressed intentions to carry out carbon neutrality projects to address the climate crisis and activities to help marginalized neighbors living in jjokbangchon (small, cramped rooms). They will also open a trauma center to respond to social disasters such as the Itaewon tragedy.