Candidate for Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said on the 17th that "social dialogue is necessary" regarding the 'anti-discrimination law' currently under legislative discussion in the National Assembly.
On the same day, at a foreign press conference held at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, Kim responded to a question about his stance on the ‘queer festival held last weekend and the anti-discrimination law’ by saying, "The common thought in Korean politics is that any form of discrimination should not exist socially."
He defended the freedom of assembly and demonstration in Korea by stating, "In the Republic of Korea, any event has been held and will continue to be held under a democratic legal order."
Regarding the 'anti-discrimination law,' he said, "The common position among the president, the Democratic Party, and myself is that more social dialogue surrounding the legislation is necessary."
He added, "There is a desperate voice demanding the anti-discrimination law related to one’s human rights. There is also a desperate opposing voice that if criticism is based on personal or religious beliefs, one might be punished for it. I believe that dialogue about these two essential voices is necessary."
He continued, "This is a matter that has nothing to do with whether the Democratic Party is the ruling party or an overwhelming majority party. This issue is an area where social dialogue must inevitably be conducted, and I think the homework is not ‘why has it not happened until now?’ but rather ‘how seriously will we engage in dialogue in the future?’"
Kim, known as a Christian, has previously stated at Christian events that "the issue of homosexuality cannot be a universal value because humanity cannot sustain itself if all humans choose homosexuality," and expressed his disagreement with the currently proposed universal anti-discrimination law.