<div>
	With his comments, Park has become one of the first mainstream South Korean politician to openly support LGBT rights, following the current Gender-Equality Minister Kim Hee-jung.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Gay marriage is opposed by political conservatives and Christians, as well as a majority of the public here.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&quot;I personally agree with the rights of homosexuals,&rdquo; Park was quoted as saying by San Francisco Examiner, a Bay-area daily, in its story published online on Sunday.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;But the Protestant churches are very powerful in Korea. It isn&rsquo;t easy for politicians. It&rsquo;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&rsquo;s in process now.&quot;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The former lawyer and human rights activist, who is widely considered one of the leading contenders for South Korea&rsquo;s next presidency, also told the US daily that he hopes to see his nation being the first in Asia to legalise gay marriage</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Many homosexual couples in Korea are already together,&rdquo; he told the paper.</div>
<div>
	<div>
		&nbsp;</div>
	<div>
		<div>
			The Korea Herald</div>
		<div>
			&nbsp;</div>
	</div>
</div>

Seoul endorses same-sex marriage

Seoul mayor Park Won-soon told a US newspaper that he personally supports same-sex marriage and would like to see South Korea being the first country in Asia to legalise it, during his recent visit to San Francisco.