“혐오·차별 대응 자료서 ‘성소수자’ 뺀 교육부, 전세계적 망신”

A controversy has erupted over a guidebook intended for distribution to schools nationwide by the Ministry of Education. The guidebook, titled “Current and Discrimination Response Handbook,” is missing information about the LGBTQ+ community. This omission has prompted calls by various organizations for a comprehensive review of the handbook.

The Korean LGBTQ+ Rights Alliance (LGB Alliance) released a statement on the 28th, calling the removal of references to LGBTQ+ individuals an act of discrimination itself. They argued that excluding the experiences of LGBTQ+ youth from the handbook prevents the creation of safe and equal schools for everyone. The LGB Alliance emphasized that ignoring the real hate and bullying faced by the LGBTQ+ community makes it impossible to achieve a truly inclusive environment.

The Alliance demanded the immediate restoration of the deleted content and the implementation of measures to prevent future incidents. The Anti-Discrimination Alliance also released a statement, labeling the Ministry's actions as "clear discrimination" and questioning the government's commitment to eradicating hate and discrimination.

The Anti-Discrimination Alliance called on the Ministry to publicly address the situation and apologize for the transgressions. The Network of Human Rights Movements, known as "Wind," noted that the history of denying the existence of LGBTQ+ individuals has contributed to their marginalization and discrimination. Wind stressed that the government's efforts to correct this issue are commendable, but the deletion of this information in the guidebook is disappointing.

The Union of School Employees (School Union) also expressed its disapproval, stating that omitting the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals is a global embarrassment and demonstrates the Ministry's failure to educate. The School Union demanded an immediate halt to the guidebook's distribution and a full review. The Jeongeup Social Labor Committee of the Jeungang Buddhism also criticized the Ministry's stance, stating that if the Ministry treats LGBTQ+ individuals poorly, how can it be expected to support the marginalized groups in society?

The Committee urged for an immediate passage of the Anti-Discrimination Act. The Ministry's guidebook, created in response to the "5.18 Racial Slur Incident" at Jeongeup High School, has become the subject of widespread controversy after deleting references to LGBTQ+ individuals. Of the seven experts consulted to review the guidebook, six strongly disagreed and threatened to resign.