Superintendent candidate who vowed to 'expel queer education' places second in Seoul election

Education superintendent candidate Cho Jeon-hyeok, who campaigned on a pledge to ban LGBTQ+ education, came in second, according to an exit poll for the local elections on Wednesday.

The exit poll was conducted by Korea’s three major terrestrial broadcasters KBS, MBC and SBS. While progressive-leaning candidate Jung Keun-sik received the highest vote share at 39 percent, Cho, who holds conservative views, garnered 21.2 percent of the vote. 

There were a whopping eight candidates for Seoul's education superintendent.

Cho’s campaign banners, hung in areas throughout the capital, frequently displayed the phrase “Expel queer and homosexual education,” which progressive candidates had criticized as “promoting hate and discrimination.”

Cho also effectively made banning the Seoul Queer Culture Festival from being held at Seoul Plaza his signature campaign pledge.

“I will prevent radical gender, queer and homosexuality-related education that lacks social consensus from entering schools,” Cho said in a press conference late last month. “'Expelling homosexual education' is not just about the subject matter; it’s a symbol of opposing radical ideological content in a broader sense.”

He also previously said that there was a need to “protect underage students and children in terms of education environment and emotional development regarding the queer festival held in downtown Seoul.”

Cho is not the only education superintendent candidate who campaigned against sexual minorities. Kim Young-bae and Yoon Ho-sang also put forward similar pledges.

BY SHIN MIN-HEE [[email protected]]