Sigh. Looks like Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon is backing off from a statement that hinted at a pro-gay marriage stance. Thanks for an anonymous comment for pointing me to this article. From the Hankyoreh (translated by TKQ):
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On the 12th (local time) the San Francisco Examiner had an interview with Mayor Park, who was asked 'if Taiwan might be the first Asian country to allow same-sex marriage'. In response, Park was reported as responding "I hope Korea will be the first. Many homosexual couples in Korea are already together. They are not legally accepted yet, but I believe the Korean Constitution allows it. We are guaranteed the right to the pursuit of happiness. Of course, there may be different interpretations to what that pursuit means."
The newspaper also reported that Park Won-soon had said "I personally agree with the rights of homosexuals. But the Protestant churches are very powerful in Korea. It isn't easy for politicians. It's in the hands of activists to expand the universal concept of human rights to include homosexuals. Once they persuade the people, the politicians will follow. It's in process now." This interview took place last month on the 26th in San Francisco. The newspaper also introduced Mayor Park as a top-contender for president in 2017.
Park's camp asserted that the contents were a misinterpretation. Explanatory materials put out by Seoul City stated "Mayor Park has not directly expressed that he will push forward the legalization of gay marriage, but rather explained the Korean circumstance. During the interview he was explaining the debate in the National assembly over protecting sexual minority rights, and the conflict with the religious world, and how the first Asian country that legalizes same-sex marriage will depend on civil society, which was not an expression of the mayor's own volition.
An individual connected with Seoul city stated "Mayor Park's words were that 'Maybe Korea would become the first country to legalize it (same-sex marriage)'. He didn't use the word hope. Mayor Park was explaining the Korean situation and was not saying that he intends to legalize same-sex marriage." The individual continued by saying that when Mayor Park saw the article he stated "I didn't say it to this extent."
A California Newspaper Reports in an Interview With Mayor Park States that he "Personally Supported Rights for Homosexuals" while Seoul City Elucidates that "He Was Explaining Korea's Circumstances... Not Expressing Personal Volition"
According to Park's team, the report on the 13th by the San Francisco Examiner was incorrect in it's report that Park Won-soon stated 'I hope Korea will be the first (Asian country that legalizes same-sex marriage)'.
The newspaper also reported that Park Won-soon had said "I personally agree with the rights of homosexuals. But the Protestant churches are very powerful in Korea. It isn't easy for politicians. It's in the hands of activists to expand the universal concept of human rights to include homosexuals. Once they persuade the people, the politicians will follow. It's in process now." This interview took place last month on the 26th in San Francisco. The newspaper also introduced Mayor Park as a top-contender for president in 2017.
Park's camp asserted that the contents were a misinterpretation. Explanatory materials put out by Seoul City stated "Mayor Park has not directly expressed that he will push forward the legalization of gay marriage, but rather explained the Korean circumstance. During the interview he was explaining the debate in the National assembly over protecting sexual minority rights, and the conflict with the religious world, and how the first Asian country that legalizes same-sex marriage will depend on civil society, which was not an expression of the mayor's own volition.
An individual connected with Seoul city stated "Mayor Park's words were that 'Maybe Korea would become the first country to legalize it (same-sex marriage)'. He didn't use the word hope. Mayor Park was explaining the Korean situation and was not saying that he intends to legalize same-sex marriage." The individual continued by saying that when Mayor Park saw the article he stated "I didn't say it to this extent."