박원순 서울시장이 미국 지역지와의 인터뷰에서 한국이 아시아 국가 중 동성결혼을 합법화하는 첫 번째 국가가 되길 바란다는 뜻을 밝힌데 이어 여호와의 증인 신도를 위한 대체 복무제를 허용할 수 있다는 취지의 발언을 한 것으로 뒤늦게 알려져 관심이 모아지고 있다.
보도내용이 사실이라면 한국 유력정치인이 공개적으로 동성결혼 합법화를 지지한 것은 사실상 처음있는 일이다.
미국 샌프란시스코 지역 신문인 샌프란시스코 이그재미너(The San Francisco Examiner)는 12일(현지시각) '박원순 서울시장, 아시아에서 첫번째 동성결혼 원한다'는 제하의 인터뷰 기사를 게재했다.
지난달 말 미국을 방문한 박 시장은 이 인터뷰에서 "개인적으로 동성애자의 권리를 옹호한다"며 "현재 한국법은 동성 결혼을 인정하지 않고 있지 않다. 하지만 이미 많은 동성 커플들이 함께 살고 있다. 국민 모두 행복추구권을 보장받는 만큼 한국 헌법도 동성끼리 결혼할 권리를 보장한다고 생각한다"고 설명했다.
이어 "개인적으로 동성애자들의 권리를 존중하지만 한국 사회에서는 개신교의 영향력이 매우 막강하기 때문에 정치인들에게 쉽지 않은 문제"라며 보수적 한국사회의 분위기를 전했다.
그러면서 "보편적인 인권의 개념을 동성애자에까지 확대시키는 것은 시민단체의 역할에 달렸다"며 "시민단체가 국민을 설득하면 정치인도 결국에는 따라 올 것"이라고 말했다.
또한 "이런 변화는 한국사회에서 이미 진행되고 있다"고 소개했다.
그는 '대만이 동성 결혼을 합법화하는 첫 아시아 국가가 될 것으로 생각하느냐'는 질문에 "한국이 동성결혼을 합법화하는 최초의 아시아 국가가 됐으면 좋겠다"고 밝혔다.
더불어 종교적 신념에 따라 병역을 거부하고 있는 여호와의 증인 신도들에 대해서 박 시장은 '대체 복무제 도입은 허용 가능하다고 본다'고 말했다고 샌프란시스코 이그재미너는 보도했다.
샌프란시스코 이그재미너는 인권변호사 출신인 박 시장이 지난 지방선거에서 재선에 성공하면서 한국의 차기 유력 대선주자로 부상했다고 소개했다.
이같은 보도에 대해 서울시는 "박 시장이 직접적으로 동성결혼에 대한 합법화를 추진하겠다는 의견을 피력한 것이 아니라 한국적인 상황에 대한 설명을 한 것"이라고 확대해석을 경계했다.
그러면서 "인터뷰 과정에서 성소수자의 인권보호, 종교계와의 갈등문제, 국회에서의 논의과정에 대한 상황을 설명한 것"이라며 "아시아에서 첫 번째로 동성결혼을 합법화하는 것은 시민사회의 역할에 달려있다고 한 것이지 시장 본인의 의지를 표현한 것은 아니다"고 해명했다.
다음은 박 시장이 샌프란시스코 이그재미너와 진행한 인터뷰 전문.
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon wants same-sex marriage in Korea as first in Asia
A gay pride parade in Seoul, South Korea, last summer was blocked by hundreds of Christian protesters laying in the street. Nearly one-third of South Korea's population belongs to a Christian church that says it's a sin to be gay.
Yet more than 10,000 people showed up for the "Love Conquers Hate"-themed parade, sponsored in part by Google Korea.
It was a flashpoint for two conflicting forces in the city of 10 million -- traditionalists versus new tech and the societal change it represents. Both sides pressured city officials as the parade's permit was approved, rescinded and then reissued.
The parade also tested the political resilience of Seoul's liberal mayor, Park Won-soon. It was election season and Park faced a conservative challenger who used homophobic rhetoric to criticize Park for allowing an anti-homophobia campaign to appear on city buses and billboards.
Park won re-election and is now considered a top contender for president in 2017. His staff invited me to interview him when he recently visited San Francisco to meet with tech leaders and seek venture capital investments for Seoul startups.
Park, who started his career as a human-rights lawyer, immediately asked about my background at the American Civil Liberties Union. I told him I worked on social-justice issues ranging from LGBT rights to immigration.
His interest in the ACLU made me curious how far he was willing to lead on human rights for LGBT South Koreans as the possible next president of the country.
"I personally agree with the rights of homosexuals," Park said. "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."
I asked him if Taiwan might be the first Asian country to allow same-sex marriage since the Taiwanese legislature is considering a bill to legalize it.
"I hope Korea will be the first," Park said. "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."
I told Park his remarks reminded me of an ACLU conundrum: How to protect the constitutional rights of people who have opposing beliefs. Letting a same-sex couple marry while allowing a religion to call it sinful is the hallmark of a truly free society. But what about the rights of a group that nearly everyone considers unpopular?
South Korea still prosecutes and jails Jehovah's Witnesses who refuse compulsory military service, which goes against international consensus on the rights of conscientious objectors. Park wants to change that.
"Alternative civilian service for Jehovah's Witnesses would be acceptable," he said.
I was impressed at how far and consistently Park was willing to defend human rights in a part of the world not known for it. At 58, he remains connected to his experience as a freshman at Seoul National University when he was expelled after being arrested at a pro-democracy rally.
Park also looks to solve new urban challenges in housing, transportation and sustainability. He said he came to San Francisco to get tech industry support for his "creative economy" and "sharing city" initiatives in a city, like his, that simultaneously embraces and protests change.
"Seoul has many conflicts, struggles and demonstrations. Innovation brings resistance from interest groups who think they are damaged and losing benefits," Park said. "Sometimes even my old friends are against me. But it's important to face your opposition and hear them out. It's in that process of discussion where you can find solutions and help people understand why the change is good."
(뉴시스)