The 'Anti-Discrimination Act' Pending in the National Assembly for 15 Years Approaches Passage

Legislation Committee Adopts Public Hearing Plan for 26th... Legislative Discussions Begin in Earnest
Democratic Party to Push as Next Legislative Agenda, People Power Party Has No Official Position

On the morning of the 25th, at a press conference held by press and media organizations in front of the National Assembly urging the enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act, Jeon Gyu-chan, co-representative of the Citizens' Coalition for Media Reform, called for the passage of the Anti-Discrimination Act during the April extraordinary session of the National Assembly.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Amid strong voices from civil society demanding the enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act (Equality Act), on the 26th, the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee adopted a plan for a public hearing to legislate the law. The Democratic Party of Korea, which had been lukewarm about the Anti-Discrimination Act, proposed pushing the law as the next legislative agenda following prosecution reform, drawing attention to whether the law, which has failed to pass the National Assembly for 15 years, will gain momentum.

Park Kwang-on, chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, stated at the committee's plenary meeting held at the National Assembly that day, "We intend to hear expert opinions on the necessity of enacting the Anti-Discrimination Act, the scope of discrimination, and the content of prohibition and preventive measures against discrimination." He added that details such as the date of the public hearing would be discussed with the ruling and opposition party secretaries.

The Anti-Discrimination Act is a bill that prohibits discrimination based on physical conditions such as gender, disability, age, language, race, nationality, appearance without reasonable grounds, as well as marital status, pregnancy or childbirth, family and household forms and situations, religion, ideology, sexual orientation, gender identity, and academic background. It was first promoted by the Roh Moo-hyun administration in 2007, and although there have been several legislative attempts over the past 15 years, it has repeatedly failed due to reasons such as "social consensus."

In the 21st National Assembly, four bills have been proposed: the "Anti-Discrimination Act" led by Justice Party lawmaker Jang Hye-young; the "Equality Act" each led by Democratic Party lawmakers Lee Sang-min and Park Joo-min; and the "Equality and Anti-Discrimination Act" led by the same party's Kwon In-sook. While there are slight differences in the details of the bills, their purpose is the same: to realize equality in all areas including politics, economy, society, and culture, and especially to promote relief and protection for social minorities and the vulnerable.

Among the four bills, Jang's bill surpassed 100,000 signatures in a national consent petition in June last year and was automatically referred to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. However, the committee extended the petition review period in September of the same year until May 29, 2024, the last day of the 21st National Assembly.

Park Ji-hyun, Co-Chair of the Democratic Party Emergency Committee. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party, which is pushing for the separation of prosecution investigation rights bill, proposed the Anti-Discrimination Act as the next legislative agenda. On the 25th, Yoon Ho-jung, co-chair of the Emergency Response Committee, said at the committee meeting, "Discussions on the Equality Act began 15 years ago, but shamefully, the National Assembly has not taken a single step toward enacting the law during that time," adding, "We will vigorously start discussions on enacting the Equality Act."

Co-chair Park Ji-hyun also emphasized, referring to the civic groups on a hunger strike in front of the National Assembly urging the enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act within April, saying, "It is time to keep the promise." Park urged the party leadership to confirm the party's stance on the Anti-Discrimination Act, stating, "It must be processed within President Moon Jae-in's term. In fact, the remaining two weeks or so are the last chance." With the National Assembly-level public hearing being promoted and the Democratic Party expressing its legislative will, the long-stalled enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act is expected to accelerate. The People Power Party has not officially stated its position regarding the Anti-Discrimination Act.

In front of the National Assembly, protests by civic groups urging the enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act during the April extraordinary session continue daily. The Civil Society Solidarity Conference held a press conference in front of the National Assembly on the 26th, stating, "The National Assembly is neglecting its responsibility for the advancement of human rights and democracy in Korean society. UN human rights treaty bodies repeatedly recommend the enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act, and looking at foreign legislative examples, the enactment of a comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Act beyond individual anti-discrimination laws is a task of the times," and raised their voices, saying, "The National Assembly must end politics of hatred and discrimination and immediately enact the Anti-Discrimination Act."

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