Human Rights Commission Mourns Late LGBTQ+ Rights Activist Kim Ki-hong: "Hate Against Sexual Minorities Must Stop"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] The National Human Rights Commission of Korea expressed condolences on the death of the late Kim Ki-hong, a sexual minority human rights activist and co-organizing committee chair of the Jeju Queer Culture Festival.

On the 26th, the Human Rights Commission issued a statement saying, "The late Kim Ki-hong engaged in various activities to promote the human rights of sexual minorities," and added, "The death of the deceased not only shows how much hatred and discrimination cause great pain to sexual minorities themselves, but also demonstrates that we all have a social responsibility to no longer ignore the suffering of sexual minorities."

It continued, "The Human Rights Commission remembers the late Kim Ki-hong, who worked hard to eliminate discrimination against sexual minorities, and urges the prompt enactment of the 'Equality Act' so that sexual minorities can live equally as members of the community without hatred and discrimination, as the deceased wished for a world without discrimination."

Kim Ki-hong was found dead at his home on the 24th. As a transgender individual, he was actively involved in the field of sexual minority human rights. In 2017, he served as co-organizing committee chair of the Jeju Queer Culture Festival organizing committee and held the first queer culture festival in Jeju. Last year, he also ran as a proportional representative candidate for the Green Party in the 21st National Assembly election.

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