Those promoting the abolition take issue with the inclusion of sexual orientation as the
grounds for prohibiting discrimination in the student human rights ordinance, or claim that
the student human rights ordinance promotes infringement of teacher rights. In response, the
NHRCK expressed regret over the movement towards the abolition of human rights
ordinances at some local governments, including the attempt to abolish the student human
rights ordinance, in a statement by the Commissioner on Sep. 26,680) and civil groups
criticized the move to abolish the human rights ordinance in 2022.
Meanwhile, diverse discussions on the 2022 revised curriculum, which was confirmed in
Dec. 2022, are also continuing. On Nov. 9, 2022, the Ministry of Education issued an
administrative advance notice on the amendment to the ‘Elementary and Secondary School
and Special Education Curriculum’ to prepare the 2022 revised curriculum. According to the
amendment, the term ‘sexual minority,’ which was included as an example of a social
minority in the explanation of achievement standards for ‘integrated society’ in high school,
is changed to ‘minorities discriminated against based on gender, etc.,’ and the term ‘gender
equality’ was replaced with ‘prejudice against gender’ in the moral and health curriculum.
Some civic groups, in response, criticized the Ministry for erasing the existence of sexual
minorities and denying the structural sexism, and for accepting the logic of hatred and
discrimination, which only account for some public opinion.681)
The NHRCK also pointed out in a statement on Nov. 28 that the human rights discourse in
Korean society, which has pursued active gender equality, could be pushed back. In
particular, they expressed concern that the deletion of the term “sexual minority” could lead
to a de facto ban on the use of the term sexual minority in offices of education and schools
and a deepening the perception of discrimination against sexual minorities.
680) NHRCK Press Release, “Statement on the movement to abolish human rights ordinances of local governments,”
Sep. 26, 2022
681) Hankyoreh, “Gender Equality ... Proposed amendment to the curriculum without sexual minorities,” Nov. 9, 2022;
Pressian, Deleting sexual minorities is the public opinion?, Nov. 16, 2022
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