over the delay of the enactment of an anti-discrimination law. In addition, the
Committee is also concerned that the state has not sufficiently taken aggressive
and effective measures to build consensus on the grounds for prohibition of
discrimination (Article 22),” “the Committee reiterates the urgency of the
establishment of a comprehensive anti-discrimination law and recommends the
state party to raise awareness among its people and lawmakers of the negative
impact of discrimination on protection of human dignity and equal enjoyment of
human rights (Article 23).”
3. While calls for the establishment of a comprehensive anti-discrimination law are
increasing as seen in the activities of the Alliance for the Legislation of the AntiDiscrimination Act in March 2017 with participation of about 100 civil society
organizations, opposing opinions have also been raised, arguing that the law
might encourage homosexuality and cause social chaos. In order to build
consensus on the elimination of discrimination against the social minority, the
government is required to promote the need to establish a comprehensive antidiscrimination law and promote the actual effects of its implementation while
developing and presenting a specific legislation roadmap which entails the
participation of diverse members of society.
[2] Establishment of Gender Discrimination Prevention Act2
4. Despite the severe gender inequity situation with its seriously low ranking at
118th in the Global Gender Gap Index (GGI) in 2017, a gender discrimination
prevention act as a separate anti-discrimination law has not been in place in
Korea since the abolishment of the Gender Discrimination Prevention and Relief
Act in 2005. The country is currently only equipped with discrimination-related
legislation such as the National Human Rights Commission of Korea Act and
individual anti-discrimination laws including the Act on the Prohibition of
Discrimination against Disabled Persons, Remedy against Infringement of Their
2
The Act on Prohibition of Gender Discrimination and Sexual Harassment as well as Relief of Right was proposed at
the 9th standing committee on March 20th, 2014 with Rep. Kim Sang-hee (then-Democratic Party) as a representative.
The NHRCK reviewed the proposed bill (November 20th, 2013) and expressed the need to enact the law.