Source: Korea Herald and Korea Times
Korea's first openly lesbian politician will run for a parliamentary seat in the April general elections.

"I want to carry out political activities not for 1 percent of the citizens but 100 percent," said Choi Hyun-suk, 51, at a press conference Monday. Choi will run on the ticket of the New Progressive Party, which recently split away from the Democratic Labor Party,

"There are people who ask if a divorced lesbian is qualified to become a lawmaker," she said. "But actually, a minority person who is in a difficult situation can best understand and carry out true policies for the majority."

Choi got divorced in 2004 and came out publicly as a lesbian. She has since worked as chairwoman for the committee for sexual minorities in the Democratic Labor Party.

She is the first openly gay or lesbian candidate for an election in the country.

Choi is looking to run for the election in April in the local constituencies of Jongno, downtown Seoul. The area is described by the Herald as a popular gay hub.

Full article: Lesbian runs for Assembly seat | Korea Herald
Lesbian in Bid for Parliamentary Seat(The Korea Times)