Ahn Cheol-soo Accused of Promoting Hate and Discrimination Against LGBTQ Groups

This is how politics work, you accuse your rival of something they did not say and let the media repeat it:

A Seoul mayoral candidate’s recent remarks related to the issue of rights of the LGBTQ community have rekindled debates on the matter in political circles. 

Conservative minor opposition People’s Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo, who is running in the April 7 by-election for Seoul mayor, brought about the controversy after saying that the rights of those who oppose an annual parade held in central Seoul by LGBTQ community members should also be respected, during a televised debate with his rival candidate and former ruling party lawmaker Keum Tae-sup, last Thursday.

LGBTQ community members here and activists supporting them have been staging the Seoul Queer Culture Festival every year since 2000 in central Seoul to call for rights for the community. Since 2015, the parade has set off from the main festival site at Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall, with the city government under former Mayor Park Won-soon granting permission despite a continuous strong backlash from some conservative Christian groups who claimed Park encouraged homosexuality.

During the debate, Keum introduced the issue to the discussion, saying it would be a “small but significant change” if a third-party candidate took part in the pride march in Seoul. Keum then asked Ahn if he would be willing to participate if elected as the mayor of the capital.

Ahn replied, “Of course I oppose discrimination. Individual human rights deserve to be respected.” But then Ahn continued to say, “If an LGBTQ festival is held in Gwanghwamun (in central Seoul), there will be some people who want to come to watch it, but the rights of others who are against it should also be respected.”

Keum criticized Ahn’s remarks in a radio interview with local broadcaster KBS the following day, saying he was disappointed as they lacked consideration for the basic human rights of the LGBTQ community. “Ahn’s advocating for the rights of those who do not want to see a queer festival is no different from hate and discrimination,” Keum said.

Korea Times

I am no fan of Ahn Cheol-soo, but it is pretty clear that he was not hating on LGBTQ groups. All he is saying is that the conservative Christian groups have a right to free speech to criticize the parade. He didn’t agree with this position he just said they had the right to express it.