'Gender Equality' Clash at National Assembly Members' Office Building... Opponents Block Forum

'Jeju-do Gender Equality Policy National Assembly Forum' Held at the National Assembly
Proceedings Canceled After About 1 Hour Due to Continued Opposition Chants

On the 23rd, a loud confrontation broke out in the middle of the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul. In Seminar Room 3 of the Members' Office Building, the 'Jeju Island Gender Equality Policy National Assembly Forum' was held, co-hosted by Democratic Party members Moon Daerim, Kim Hangyu, and Wi Seonggon. It was a meeting to discuss gender equality policies in the Jeju region. However, about 30 people opposing the forum rushed into the seminar room, shouting slogans and disrupting the proceedings.

On the 23rd, at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, people opposing the Jeju Peace and Human Rights Charter gathered and shouted slogans during the 'Jeju Island Gender Equality Policy National Assembly Forum.' / Photo by Gong Byung-seon mydillon@

The forum was scheduled to start at 4 p.m. and end around 6 p.m. As the forum began, about 30 minutes in, people sitting in the back rows stood up and started shouting slogans. "Oppose! Oppose!" Although the staff from the members' offices tried to persuade them for smooth event progress, their words had no effect. Instead, they shook the placards they were holding more vigorously. The placards read 'Strong Opposition to Jeju Peace and Human Rights Charter' and 'Null and Void.' There were even dangerous moments. When a forum participant approached and said, "What are you doing now? Please leave," the opposing side closed in tightly. It was a tense situation on the verge of a physical altercation. The members' office staff ran around trying to separate them.

Kim Hangyu, a member of the forum, took the microphone and said, "We will arrange a time later to listen to your opinions." However, the opposing group shouted slogans louder than the microphone volume. After talking with the National Assembly security staff, Representative Kim left the venue.

The Jeju Peace and Human Rights Charter, which they oppose, is one of Governor Oh Young-hoon's major pledges for Jeju Province. The human rights charter contains provisions that prohibit discrimination against residents based on gender, sexual orientation, disability, medical history, age, race, marital status, religion, and other factors. In fact, the human rights charter has faced continuous difficulties during its promotion. A public hearing for the establishment of the human rights charter and gathering opinions from Jeju residents was held on the 9th of last month in Seogwipo City, Jeju, but was disrupted and eventually aborted as opponents occupied the stage. Another public hearing was held the next day but was also canceled for the same reasons.

The people who came to disrupt the forum on this day cited similar reasons. A man shouting slogans loudly responded even louder when asked, "What is your purpose for coming to the forum?" "Gender education itself causes confusion about students' gender identity. Then families and society collapse. Do you want to turn all children into sexual minorities?" When asked about his name, age, and origin, he avoided answering. Other opponents also said they came in a personal capacity to block the forum.

On the 23rd, at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, people opposing the Jeju Peace and Human Rights Charter gathered and shouted slogans during the 'Jeju Island Gender Equality Policy National Assembly Forum.' / Photo by Gong Byung-seon mydillon@

The forum attendees expressed their embarrassment. Some participants vented their frustration, saying they had traveled all the way from Jeju to Seoul but could not even properly conduct the forum. A Jeju provincial government official said, "This is an official occasion to report and discuss gender policy-related work, so disrupting it like this is inappropriate." They also expressed dissatisfaction with the National Assembly security staff, questioning why they could not remove the disruptors despite the loud disturbances.

Where did these people come from? They mostly appeared to be from Protestant groups outside the Jeju region. When asked a woman who was shaking a placard whether she took the subway or bus to the National Assembly, she replied, "I live in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, so I walked across Yeoui 2 Bridge on the left side of the National Assembly building." The opposing group said they would continue their cause at the 'Korean Church 2 Million United Worship and Great Prayer Meeting' scheduled around Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on the 27th.

Ultimately, the forum was canceled at 5:18 p.m. amid fierce opposition. The forum participants packed up and lined up to leave the seminar room. A woman among the opposing group saw this scene and shouted while raising her hands in celebration, "Hallelujah!"

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