Lee Jae Myung on LGBT Rights
TL;DR
Lee Jae Myung supports anti-discrimination laws but opposes unilateral passage without achieving broad social consensus.
Key Points
He stated in 2022 that he was positive about anti-discrimination laws but opposed abolishing the military's 'sodomy law' and would not openly support the LGBTQ community.
Currently, he states he opposes passing anti-discrimination laws with LGBTQ protection if it occurs unilaterally without achieving social consensus.
His administration's statistics ministry updated the 2025 Census to formally recognize same-sex cohabiting partners in population counts.
Summary
Lee Jae Myung's position regarding LGBT rights has shown a shift, moving from a seemingly more open stance to one emphasizing the need for social consensus before implementing significant legal changes. During the 2022 presidential election cycle, he expressed positivity towards anti-discrimination laws but was against removing the military's 'sodomy law' and did not offer overt support to the LGBTQ community. More recently, his stance hardened, indicating a reluctance to allow the passage of anti-discrimination legislation that includes LGBTQ protection if it proceeds without widespread social agreement.
Despite this hesitation on immediate, unilateral legislation, the new president's administration has overseen a notable administrative step toward recognition, as the Ministry of Data and Statistics updated the 2025 Population and Housing Census to allow same-sex partners to be accurately counted. Human Rights Watch has urged the new government to pass a comprehensive anti-discrimination law and repeal the article criminalizing same-sex acts within the military, indicating that the political landscape remains contested on these issues.
Key Quotes
During the 2022 presidential election, Lee stated that he was positive on anti-discrimination laws, but was against abolishing the 'sodomy law' in the military and would not openly support the LGBTQ community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lee Jae Myung's current position is cautious regarding immediate legal changes; he opposes the unilateral passage of anti-discrimination laws that protect LGBTQ individuals without first securing broad social consensus. This stance suggests a prioritization of societal buy-in over swift legislative action on the matter.
Yes, his stance appears to have evolved. During the 2022 election, he expressed positivity on anti-discrimination laws, but later indicated resistance to passing them without social consensus. This represents a shift from his earlier, more open statements.
In 2022, the politician stated his opposition to abolishing the 'sodomy law' within the military, even while being positive about general anti-discrimination legislation. This indicates a specific area where he favored maintaining existing restrictions in 2022.
Sources5
Lee Jae Myung - Wikipedia
South Korea to Count Same-Sex Couples in Census for First Time
South Korea Presidential Candidate Questionnaire Responses
Do you guys know that Lee Jae-Myung is more conservative than Yoon when it comes to LGBTQ issues?
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.