By M.E. Dodge
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

SEOUL, South Korea –   A report issued on October 21 by Amnesty International reveals the country’s social concern over racism and discrimination.

The report showed that there is a widespread racist sentiment against migrant workers, who mostly are from poor Asian countries. In compiling its research, the human rights organization cited sexual abuse, racial slurs, inadequate safety training and the mandatory disclosure of H.I.V. status, a requirement not imposed on South Koreans in the same jobs. The report also found in citing local news media and rights advocates, that following last year’s financial downturn, “incidents of xenophobia are on the rise.”

South Korea is noted as a country that has been repeatedly invaded by neighboring countries, and as a result, the people of South Korea have grown to adopt racial outlooks that have been colored by “pure-blood” nationalism as well as traditional patriarchal mores, according to Seol Dong-hoon, a sociologist at Chonbuk National University. There are even reports that North Korean authorities force women to have abortions who return home pregnant after going to China to find food, as stated by defectors and human rights groups.

The report goes on to assess how globalization for many South Koreans, has largely meant increasing exports or going abroad to study, and that now that it is also bringing an influx of foreigners into a society where 42 percent of respondents (in a 2008 survey) said they had never once spoken with a foreigner.

There is evidence though, that action is being taken to remedy this perverse level of racism. On July 10, Bonogit Hussain, a 29-year-old Indian man, and Hahn Ji-seon, a female Korean friend, were riding a bus near Seoul when another passenger made racial and sexist comments toward them. Customarily, this interaction was not unfamiliar, however, this time the media in the South Korean media broadcasted the incident, and subsequently, prosecutors sprang into action. The passenger was found, identified, arrested, and charged with contempt. This is noteworthy, because for the first time, such charges had been applied to an alleged racist offense.

As a result of this case, which is pending in court, rival South Korean political parties have begun drafting legislation that for the first time would provide a detailed definition of discrimination by race and ethnicity and impose criminal penalties.

For more information, please see:

EIN World News Report – South Korea Racism & Xenophobia News – November 2, 2009

New York Times – South Koreans Struggle With Race  – November 2, 2009  

The Hankyoreh – Foreigners cite nationalism, discrimination as barriers to life in Korea – April 23, 2009

By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

TAIPEI, Taiwan – 20,000 people from Taiwan’s gay and lesbian community took the streets of Taipei Saturday demanding that the government better safeguard gay rights and their lifestyle choices.  The marchers, shouting the slogan “Love Out Loud,” specifically asked for equal rights and recognition of same sex marriages.

This was Taiwan’s seventh annual Gay Pride Parade and attracted supporters from neighboring Asian countries like Hong Kong and Japan. 

Tung Chu-chu, the chief organizer of the march, said, “We urge the government to better protect gay human rights including same-sex unions so we can have the same legal rights as heterosexual couples.” 

Another participant, Nancy Chen, added, “I hope the government will not only legalise same-sex unions but also allow us to adopt children.”  Chen said, “Even though Taiwan is becoming more open-minded towards gays, many still think that gay people can have romantic relationships but not something as serious as starting families.”

Gay rights activists in Taipei.  Courtesy of MSN.

A Taiwanese professor Ho Chuen-juei said this parade is not only to raise the voices of the gay, lesbian and transgender community, but also to fight prejudice and discrimination.

Taiwan is actually one of the most tolerant Asian countries regarding homosexuality.  Taiwan is said to have the most vibrant gay community in Asia, and its parade is the largest among the Chinese-speaking communities.

Furthermore, in 2003, Taipei’s mayor began subsidizing the annual Gay Carnival.  However, the funding for the Carnival as decreased over the years, in addition to some recent cases of suppression of homosexuals.  Also in 2003, Taiwan became the first Asian country to draft a bill legalizing same-sex marriage, but the bill still has not yet been passed.

Tung criticized the Taiwanese government for not passing the anti-discrimination legislation saying, “We love the people around us, but sometimes the society and the government don’t love us, or even see us…The government made us lots of empty promises, but so far they haven’t come through.”

Despite the government’s inaction, the organizers of the parade remain hopeful and plan to expand the parade to other parts of Taiwan next year.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Thousands march in Taipei for gay marriage – 31 October 2009

GMA News – Taiwan’s gays march for enactment of anti-discrimination measure – 31 October 2009

Taipei Times – Gay pride throngs Taipei streets – 1 November 2009

The Times of India – 20,000 march in Taipei for gay rights – 31 October 2009