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A coalition of protestant Christian groups hold a mass rally in downtown Seoul on Oct. 27, 2024, to oppose the legalization of same-sex marriage and the creation of an anti-discrimination act. (Yonhap)

The Communion of Churches in Korea, along with various other conservative Christian associations, held a mass “joint worship service” in Seoul’s Yeouido Hangang Park region and Gwanghwamun on Sunday to fight the legalization of same-sex marriage and adoption of anti-discrimination laws.

“The Christian faith is oppressed in the West, which has comprehensive anti-discrimination laws and where same-sex marriage is legal! South Korea should remain the last sacred country to never see the passing of anti-discrimination laws or legalization of same-sex marriage!” the groups said. 
 
The groups gathered lashed out against a Supreme Court ruling made on July 18, which recognized a same-sex partner as a dependent for state health insurance coverage and the lawsuit filed by 11 same-sex couples to call for the legalization of same-sex marriage.
 
“If the legislative and judicial branches of our government are breached, not only will Christians be robbed of the freedom to pursue their faith but their freedom of speech will also be suppressed. If you believe that homosexuality is a sin, raise your voice high to say so,” those at the rally exclaimed.
 
Hate speech and misinformation attacking sexual and gender minorities went unchecked at the rallies. Claims that a comprehensive anti-discrimination law would bring on an onslaught of reverse discrimination, that the recognition of same-sex couples as dependents for health insurance and the legalization of same-sex marriage will exacerbate the shrinking population, and that newly revised textbooks are “instilling homosexual values” in children were thrown left, right and center. A newspaper printed by the rally’s organizers contained arguments that communism and homosexuality were bedfellows and other pieces worshiping Syngman Rhee and Park Chung-hee.

A coalition of protestant Christian groups hold a mass rally in downtown Seoul on Oct. 27, 2024, to oppose the legalization of same-sex marriage and the creation of an anti-discrimination act. (Yonhap)

 
Seoulites who had ventured into the heart of the city to enjoy their late fall outings were taken aback by such blatant hate speech. 

Kang Jin-gyu, 42, who visited Gwanghwamun with his 7-year-old child, said, “We came to the underground Kyobo Bookstore after staying in the square, where we were surrounded by a barrage of hate speech. I was alarmed to hear such aggressive remarks be thrown from all directions in a space where many families come for outings.”
 
An individual surnamed Lim, 23, was unaware that such a large-scale protest was happening and visited the area to tour the palace in the district. “It took me 20 or so minutes to leave the subway station. There wasn’t enough space for pedestrians since the protesters occupied the road. I was swept up in the crowd and barely made it out. It would be really easy for a major accident to happen here,” Lim said.
 
Some Christians have come out in vocal opposition to Sunday’s rally. 

“This rally claims to be a ‘joint worship service,’ but it is nothing but a sinful event in which participants base their claims on outdated conspiracies to push homophobic discrimination,” read a statement signed by 53 groups and 214 individuals, including the LGBTQ+-friendly Christian group “Rainbow Jesus” and Sumdol Presbyterian Church.

“This directly contradicts the values of generosity, diversity, and respect for human rights that our society has worked so hard to instill. They are oppressing the rights of minorities under the name of the ‘majority,’” the statement read. 
 
Traffic was restricted along Sejong-daero between Gwanghwamun and Seoul Station, as well as Yeoui-daero between the south end of the Mapo Bridge and Yeouido Saetgang Pedestrian Bridge from the early hours of the morning. Police operated the roads next to the rally as reversible lanes while some roads were made into one-way streets. The organizers of the rally estimate that 1 million people participated in the rally while the police estimated the number to be closer to 120,000.

By Park Go-eun, staff reporter

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