Korean church people together with some civil groups held a rally titled “Citizens Against Homosexuality and the Queer Festival” on June 11 at the plaza in front of Daehanmun gate of Deoksugung palace in Seoul. The participants named the damaging effects of homosexuality, prayed that unethical sexual culture would not spread, and proposed sound sexual ethics. Approximately 12,000 Christians and members of the general public participated.
The first part of the event was a prayer gathering, and the second was a “Life, Family, Hyo Festival” with singing and dancing.
At the prayer gathering, Executive Director Rev. Lee Young-hoon of the Christian Council of Korea said, “Homosexual activities are wrong religiously, socially, morally, and ethically. However, we should blame the sin, not the persons. I hope that they will realize loving the same sex is wrong, and will return.”
Rev. Cho Il-rae, executive director of the Communion of Churches in Korea, said pointedly, “I hope this gathering becomes the occasion for President Park Geun-hye, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, and other public officials to learn how strongly opposed to homosexuality the citizens are.”
Director So Gang-seok of the Korean Church Countermeasures Committee against Homosexuality urged, “Being closely related to AIDS, homosexuality has a negative impact on public health. The National Headquarters for Disease Control should not hide this, but publicize the close relationship between homosexuality and AIDS.” The participants prayed for the holiness of Korean society.
The second part was led by younger leaders in the form of a concert and talk show. During the event, Prof. Gil Won-Pyeong of Pusan National University said, “Homosexuality is absolutely not a matter of genetic makeup. Revision of the National Human Rights Commission Act and school textbooks is urgently needed in order to promote recognition of the reality that AIDS is due to homosexual activity, because AIDS infection among youth is increasing drastically.”
Lee Young-hui of the Esther Prayer Movement made the evaluation: “Through this event, Protestant, Catholic and Buddhist religious leaders and others have frankly and confidently expressed our view that many citizens are determined to have our nation safeguard their children from immoral sexual culture.”
Special Coverage Team
Original Article in Korean:
“죄는 미워하되 사람은 미워해선 안돼… 잘못 깨닫고 돌아오길”
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