"'Sexual Relations Only for Married Couples...' Controversy Over Ordinance Reviewed by Seoul Metropolitan Council"

Teacher Organizations Issue Statement Opposing
City Council: "Only Internal Review Conducted"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] The Seoul Metropolitan Council has sparked controversy by requesting the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education to review a student ordinance draft containing provisions such as "sexual relations can only occur between married couples." The council explained that the ordinance was a proposal from an external source and had not been finalized, and that they were merely conducting routine work by consulting relevant departments.

The Seoul Teachers' Union issued a statement on the 30th, saying, "This ordinance is based on hatred and exclusion of human beings. It is so unworthy of consideration that it even causes self-loathing among teachers in the field," and called for the ordinance's repeal.

The controversy began when elementary, middle, and high school teachers in Seoul received an official letter requesting them to submit their review opinions on the "Seoul Metropolitan City School Members' Sexual and Life Ethics Norms Ordinance Draft" by the 30th. Earlier, on the 25th, the Metropolitan Office of Education received a request from the Seoul Metropolitan Council's Education Specialist Office to inquire about opinions on the ordinance draft and posted the related document on the work system accessible to teachers.

The problem lies in the content of the ordinance draft. The draft includes provisions such as "sexual relations must occur only within marriage," and "male and female are individuals' immutable biological sexes," which enforce premarital chastity and do not recognize gender diversity.

'Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education School Members' Sex and Life Ethics Code Ordinance Draft' Capture

Additionally, it states that "the sexual self-determination rights of children and adolescents should be limited to the passive right to refuse unwanted sexual acts," and "sexual education conducted in schools should emphasize restraint." The ordinance also grants the authority to investigate and discipline related personnel who do not comply with these provisions to a position called the "Sexual and Life Ethics Officer."

Some teacher organizations have strongly opposed the ordinance. The Seoul Teachers' Union issued a statement in protest, and the Seoul branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (Jeon-gyo-jo) also released a statement saying, "This ordinance is trapped in an outdated idea that enforces purity and chastity. It defends old customs under the pretext of protecting children and aims to revert education to the past," adding, "The fact that such an ordinance was proposed in 2023 is itself a shameful reflection of our times. It should be discarded immediately without any consideration."

As the controversy spread, the Seoul Metropolitan Council clarified that "the ordinance draft was proposed to the council in the form of an external petition and has not been decided upon at all." The council explained in a statement, "Typically, when various civic groups submit ordinance drafts as petitions, regardless of the appropriateness of the content, legal issues, or whether a council member will propose it, the council's specialist office conducts a comprehensive review of the ordinance draft."

They added, "We deeply regret that the public was misled into believing the ordinance would be legislated as proposed," and continued, "This request for opinion submission was made as part of the review process to consult with relevant departments of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (the executive agency) and is part of routine work."