Gender equality ministry to revise youth counseling manual that listed homosexuality as delinquency

South Korea's Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said it will immediately revise a counseling manual for at-risk youth that classified homosexuality as a form of juvenile delinquency.

The ministry issued a press release Wednesday saying it "deeply regrets the distress and concern caused to LGBTQ youth and those involved" by the classification of sexual minorities as a type of delinquency.

The statement came after controversy erupted over an activity manual distributed by the Korea Youth Counseling and Welfare Institute, an agency under the ministry, to "youth companions" — specialists who provide counseling and support to at-risk youth. The manual listed homosexuality alongside sexual violence, theft and drug use as delinquency-related problems.

The ministry said it will also strengthen human rights sensitivity training for youth companions and workers at youth counseling and welfare centers.

In addition, the ministry said it plans to improve relevant guidelines and support systems to ensure that no youth is denied entry to a youth shelter or otherwise disadvantaged on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation.

A ministry official said the agency revised its youth human rights protection manual for shelter workers in August, based on feedback gathered from LGBTQ support groups and other stakeholders in December last year. "We will work to ensure that all youth can receive counseling and protection without discrimination," the official said.