South Korean presidential front runner Moon Jae-in says he opposes homosexuality

South Korean presidential front runner Moon Jae-in has outraged persecuted sexual minority groups by saying during a television debate that he opposes homosexuality, something his supporters say he had to do to win office in the deeply conservative country.

Moon, a liberal candidate and former human rights lawyer, made the comments on Tuesday night while responding to a conservative presidential candidate who argued gay soldiers were weakening the country’s military. Gay rights advocates, some of whom who were dragged away after approaching Moon following a speech in Seoul on Wednesday, see Moon’s words as hate speech.

Moon’s supporters defended his comments as in line with many South Koreans’ views. Moon’s camp didn’t immediately respond to the criticism by gay rights activists.

Sexual minorities are harshly stigmatised in South Korea and struggle with political visibility because a powerful Christian lobby keeps politicians from passing anti-discrimination laws. Among the five candidates who participated in the debate, only Sim Sang-jung, representing the minor Justice Party, openly advocates gay rights.

After the conservative candidate, Hong Joon-pyo, argued that gay soldiers were weakening the country’s military, Moon said he agreed.