activists from the Korean Women's Association for Civil Participation held a protest in Mangwon-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, opposing the "incitement to discriminate against sexual minorities" that emerged in the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education superintendent election. They stated that education without discrimination and aversion towards sexual minorities is needed.
Grassroots Civic Response
Citizens have undertaken spontaneous actions in response to banners distributed by Seoul education superintendent candidate Jo Jeon-hyuk containing statements such as "Expel homosexual education." Through both formal complaint mechanisms and direct counter-messaging, civil society organisations have mobilised a multifaceted response.
The book discussion group "Between Us" has posted response banners beginning from the 27th in areas near Jo's campaign materials, displaying statements including "Queer people are living together at school" and "What education requires is the expulsion of discrimination and hate." The group reported receiving voluntary location information and financial support from citizens, enabling placement of banners at 23 locations including Mangwon Station, Hapjeong Station, Magoknaaru Station, and in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education's Goseok Library. Civil society organisations including the Youth Sexual Minority Support Centre "Ding Dong" have also initiated a "Sexual Minority Hate-Incitement Banner Complaint Action" through the safety reporting application, submitting complaints regarding illegal advertisements.
Kim Chae-hyun, age 26, reported that upon encountering the banner near a middle school during her morning commute, she decided to submit a complaint. She noted that although she is not typically an active advocate on sexual minority issues, she believed that accumulated complaints could constitute public opinion and that inaction would allow hate speech to become normalised.
Jeong Min-seok, director of "Ding Dong," stated that upon commencement of the election campaign, the centre received inquiries not only from sexual minority community members but also from ordinary citizens asking "Is this not unpleasant?" and "What immediate actions can be taken?"
Limitations of Current Legal Framework
The Central Election Management Committee stated on the 29th that assessment of whether the banners constitute hate speech falls outside its jurisdiction. Committee officials explained that if the content does not constitute defamation or false statements as defined under the Public Official Election Act, the Committee bears no responsibility to determine legality or issue statements. Officials emphasised that hate speech regulation does not fall within the purview of current election law, and that the Committee will base evaluations primarily on posting location and factual accuracy.
The Ministry of Public Administration and Security had established "Outdoor Advertisement Law Prohibited Advertisements Application Guidelines" in November of the previous year, enabling local governments to consider removal measures for banners containing discriminatory or hateful expressions targeting specific groups. However, implementation of this framework has encountered numerous practical challenges.
banners of Jo Jeon-hyuck (candidate for Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education superintendent) and banners of "Between Us" were hung side by side near Hapjeong Station.
Expert Analysis and Calls for Legal Reform
Koo Jung-woo, professor of sociology at Sungkyunkwan University, observed that the current legal system lacks legislation directly addressing such banners. He explained that without comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation or higher-order statutes regulating hate speech, enforcement through outdoor advertisement law alone proves insufficient. Furthermore, expressions targeting groups without identifying specific individuals remain difficult to prosecute under current defamation or insult statutes. Professor Koo emphasised the importance of dialogue, persuasion-based responses, and the gradual process of social internalisation of values.
Jo Ji-hun, secretary-general of the Lawyers for Democratic Society, noted that current guidelines theoretically provide grounds for administrative entities to consider removal measures following deliberation procedures. However, he identified a critical procedural challenge: elections may conclude before review processes complete, rendering legal measures ineffectual. He called upon citizens to demand more active and expeditious exercise of administrative authority by government agencies.
Jo further argued that fundamental solutions require either amendment of outdoor advertisement law or enactment of comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation to clarify that hate and discriminatory speech falls outside the domain of protected expression, thereby establishing clear legal standards.
Asian Editorial Department: Lu Junxiu