Seoul education chief candidates spar over anti-LGBTQ+ slogans

Conservative candidates vying for the Seoul Superintendent of Education position are drawing fire for their use of anti-LGBTQ+ slogans. Civic groups, including the Seoul Education단체협의회, have called for a ban on hate speech during the election campaign, urging all candidates to pledge against such rhetoric.

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We will block radical gender, queer, and homosexual education from indiscriminately entering beyond school walls.

At a press conference, candidate Cho Jeon-hyuk declared his intention to "block radical gender, queer, and homosexual education from indiscriminately entering beyond school walls." This statement follows criticism that his campaign banners promoting the "expulsion of queer and homosexual education" violated outdoor advertising guidelines prohibiting hate speech and human rights violations. Kim Young-bae, another candidate, joined the "hate competition" by holding a sign opposing "homosexuality and the anti-discrimination law," vowing to teach "why we oppose homosexuality and the anti-discrimination law."

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Why we oppose homosexuality and the anti-discrimination law, we will teach properly.

However, other conservative candidates have distanced themselves from this approach. Yoon Ho-sang, who was selected as the unified conservative candidate, questioned the efficacy of such slogans, stating, "We need to present a vision for raising children well, not change Seoul's education with 'opposition to homosexuality.'" He further asked if using such slogans to gain votes from certain groups was appropriate for an education superintendent candidate. Ryu Soo-no criticized these promises as "populist policies" that "should never be made."

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We need to present a vision for raising children well, not change Seoul's education with 'opposition to homosexuality.'

The Seoul Education단체협의회, representing about 30 parent, teacher, and youth organizations, argued that education should foster understanding and coexistence among diverse identities. They questioned how someone advocating for expulsion could be responsible for Seoul's education system.

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Populist policies that should never be made.