The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) has written to South Korean officials to express concern over two recent ‘conversion therapy’ seminars hosted in government buildings.

The letter dated 3 April said the failure of high-level government officials and the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) to denounce ‘gay cures’ and the groups promoting these practices contravened the country’s international commitments to human rights.

‘Two recent convenings by anti-LGBT hate organizations in South Korean government buildings that convey the troubling impression of the government’s tacit endorsement of so-called “conversion therapy” and tolerance for discrimination against LGBT Koreans,’ the letter reads.

In November, Holy Life, Chosen People Network and People’s Solidarity for Healthy Society held an ex-gay human rights forum at the National Assembly Members Office Building.

Then last month, the same groups held a second forum on NHRCK premises.

‘Calling these seminars human rights forums is manifestly deceptive,’ said IGLHRC.

‘These groups, which make up a small minority of the Christian population in South Korea, are known to use religious rhetoric to encourage panic in families who are already worried about the stigma and discrimination they and their LGBT family members may face.’

The group urged the National Assembly to denounce ‘conversion therapy’ as ‘unscientific, unnecessary, and deeply damaging’ and ensure that its premises are not used to host anti-gay groups.

IGLHRC also called on the NHRCK to issue an apology to the Korean LGBTI community.

‘By allowing the premises of public institutions to be used by groups that promote discrimination against LGBT persons, and by granting permission for seminars that incite violations of the human rights of LGBT persons, the government is giving legitimacy to these groups,’ the group said.

‘The outcomes and acts of these groups and seminars, while being held on public grounds, can therefore be interpreted as state-sponsored advocacy of hatred that could incite discrimination or violence.’