United Future Party claimed to oppose all discrimination... but hesitant on the Anti-Discrimination Act

Justice Party aims to propose by the end of this month... One of the 5 major legislative tasks

First-term lawmakers of the United Future Party, including Assemblywoman Han Mu-kyung, are holding a silent protest against all discrimination on the 10th at the National Assembly Rotunda Hall. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Although first-term lawmakers of the United Future Party, who declared they are 'against all forms of discrimination,' are showing a lukewarm attitude toward the Anti-Discrimination Act, it is still meaningful that voices against discrimination have emerged within the party. However, if they ultimately do not engage in legislative activities, their sincerity will inevitably be questioned.

One United Future Party lawmaker who called for anti-discrimination in the National Assembly rotunda told Asia Economy on the 18th, “Rather than submitting a bill, it was more of a declarative gesture,” adding, “(The Anti-Discrimination Act) requires further public discussion.”

United Future Party lawmakers Kim Ye-ji, Kim Yong-pan, Yoon Joo-kyung, Lee Young, Lee Jong-sung, Jeon Ju-hye, Cho Tae-yong, Han Mu-kyung, and Heo Eun-ah held a silent protest on the 10th in the National Assembly rotunda to mourn George Floyd, a Black man who lost his life due to excessive police force in the United States. The first-term lawmakers of the United Future Party jointly issued a statement that day, saying, “We oppose any form of discrimination to protect the dignity of human beings and the right to pursue happiness as stipulated in the Constitution,” and “We deeply take to heart George Floyd’s warning and oppose all discrimination, including racial discrimination, gender discrimination, discrimination against people with disabilities, religious discrimination, and regional discrimination.”

The Justice Party has selected the Anti-Discrimination Act as one of the five major legislative tasks of the 21st National Assembly and aims to propose it by the end of this month. They are also hopeful for the participation of the first-term United Future Party lawmakers who held the silent protest. A staff member from Justice Party lawmaker Jang Hye-young’s office, who is preparing the bill, said, “We do not think it will be a situation where the bill cannot even be proposed like in the 20th National Assembly,” and added, “We will request all offices, and for those interested, lawmaker Jang will personally visit to ask for their support in proposing the bill.”

The Anti-Discrimination Act centers on the principle that no one should be discriminated against based on gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, and other reasons. The bill was consecutively proposed in the 17th to 19th National Assemblies but was not processed due to opposition from religious groups concerned about the sexual identity provisions. In particular, during the 19th National Assembly, lawmaker Kim Han-gil of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy pushed for the Anti-Discrimination Act but withdrew the bill voluntarily after facing strong protests from conservative Christian groups. In the 20th National Assembly, Justice Party lawmaker Shim Sang-jung led the effort but was unable to propose the bill due to the lack of co-sponsors outside the Justice Party.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.