NHRC faces backlash over 'biased' anti-discrimination law research selection

South Korea's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is under fire for awarding the highest score to a lawyer known for opposing the anti-discrimination law, despite their history of anti-LGBTQ+ remarks. This decision came during the evaluation of research proposals on overseas anti-discrimination laws.

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Children who accept homosexuality and gender transition become unhappy.

The lawyer, identified as 'Lawyer N', received a score of 79 from Jeon, the NHRC's director of discrimination prevention. Lawyer N's firm, 'Law Firm A', subsequently won the 62 million won (approximately $45,000) research contract. Notably, a proposal from Sookmyung Women's University, led by Professor Hong Sung-soo, a leading authority on the anti-discrimination law in Korea, received the lowest score of 67 from Jeon.

Lawyer N has previously expressed views such as "children who accept homosexuality and gender transition become unhappy" and stated that "the decisive factor in the suicidal impulses of LGBTQ+ individuals is gender transition and homosexuality itself, rather than social discrimination." Lawyer N also participated as a speaker at a forum organized by the 'Save Korea Coalition' in November, titled "Preventing the Legalization of Homosexuality under the Guise of Anti-Discrimination." Human rights groups have strongly protested, arguing that someone who opposes the anti-discrimination law has been tasked with researching it for the NHRC.

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The decisive factor in the suicidal impulses of LGBTQ+ individuals is gender transition and homosexuality itself, rather than social discrimination.

Director Jeon was appointed to her position in March of last year by NHRC Chair Ahn Chang-ho. She reportedly has ties to conservative Christian legal circles and is alleged to have been involved in NHRC Chair Ahn's decision to postpone the review of a case related to sexual minorities in July of last year. An NHRC employee described Jeon as someone who "actively assists Chair Ahn for the sake of Christian groups." Rep. Seo Mi-hwa of the Democratic Party expressed strong suspicion, stating, "It is highly inappropriate for the director of discrimination prevention to have even evaluated this problematic research project. I strongly suspect Chair Ahn's influence was at play in awarding the contract to that law firm."

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It is highly inappropriate for the director of discrimination prevention to have even evaluated this problematic research project. I strongly suspect Chair Ahn's influence was at play in awarding the contract to that law firm.