Ⅱ. Respecting the Dignity and Value of Diverse Members of Society: 1. Efforts in Responding to Hatred and Discrimination B. Efforts to Resolve Discrimination against LGBTQ The chairman of the NHRCK released a statement titled “Transgender are our neighbors” on Mar. 31, 2021, the International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV). In Oct. 2021, Human Rights Watch, an international human rights organization, released a report that interviewed the realities of Korean LGBTQ students, experiencing hatred, discrimination and harassment, etc.63) Similarly, being aware of the fact that LGBTQ are living among us and that looking into the problems faced by them are matters that need to precede in order to guarantee the human rights of LGBTQ and respond to discrimination.64) When COVID-19 spread from clubs located in Itaewon around May 2020, related media reports continued, and sensationalizing reports that presumed the sexual orientation of the people who visited the club over flowed.65) The Citizens’ Coalition for Democratic Media monitored the articles on the Itaewon club from May 7~11, 2020 (including online news reports, and using Naver), and found a total of 1,175 articles with keywords ‘gay club,’ ‘homosexual,’ ‘gay,’ ‘black sleeping room,’ ‘steamed room,’ and stated that these are reports, unrelated to COVID-19 prevention, that incite discrimination against LGBTQ. Byun Hui-su, a staff sergeant in the Korean army, petitioned to continue serving in the army after a gender reassignment surgery. However, on Jan. 22, 2020, the army discharged Byun for disability. This case received criticism from civil 63) Human Rights Watch, “I thought I was the problem,” - Korean schools ignoring the rights of LGBTQ students, Oct. 2021. 64) Human Rights Watch stated that LGBTQ students are experiencing extreme isolation due to harassment, discrimination, invisibility and inaccurate information from the curriculum, and strict gender segregation custom, etc. and desperately need support. Also, harassment and discrimination experienced by adolescent LGBTQ are not problematic due to the government’s inaction, but is an outcome of the current policy that encourages discrimination and isolation. Also, it pointed out that the Korean government has not taken any action to guarantee the right to the equal treatment of LGBTQ, with strong opposition by religious organizations and conservative groups as an excuse. 65) NHRCK, Aug. 27, 2021 20JinJeong0314600 Decision, Releasing too much information on the confirmed cases of COVID-19 by local governments 71