Lee Dong-hwan

Lee Dong-hwan (; born 1980 or 1981 Early in his life, he described himself as having negative preconceptions towards LGBT individuals. However, after a member of his church came out to him in 2015, he began to question his views on queer people. He eventually came to the conclusion that "If Jesus were alive today...[he] would be with the LGBTQ community". He recognized that his beliefs contradicted official Korean Methodist Church doctrine, which disapproves of same-sex relationships and prohibits LGBT rights advocacy by church members. At the event, he blessed a same-sex couple and led a prayer for LGBT people on the main stage. He threw flower petals into the audience, and added a rainbow-patterned stole to his minster's robes. According to Lee, he thought his actions might cause "issues" within the church, Lee criticized the hearing's fairness, as one of the judges had also been responsible for investigating him.

The suspension itself was criticized by religious groups inside and outside Korea and by South Korean LGBT rights groups. A protest was held outside the Korean Methodist Church's headquarters in Seoul. Throughout his suspension, Lee performed several additional blessings for LGBT individuals and couples and criticized the church's stance on LGBT issues. and the South Korean Coalition for Anti-Discrimination Legislation and Rainbow Jesus announced they would fundraise to help cover Lee's legal fees should he appeal.

In response to the excommunication, Lee lodged an appeal within the church. His lawyers also argued that, since there had been no complaint made against Lee to base the reindictment on, the ecclesiastical court had not followed proper procedures. The church confirmed the excommunication in March 2024.

Activism In 2021 Lee was recognized by the Korean branch of Amnesty International for his activism, and in 2022, he founded a Christian LGBT activist group called Q&A. He has attended several pride festivals, and ran a stand at the 2021 and 2022 Seoul Queer Culture Festival.

In December 2023, Lee held a prayer at a disability rights protest at Hyehwa station. The protestors were removed from the station due to lack of advanced permission, and so held a prayer outside instead.

Personal life Lee Dong-hwan was raised in a religious family, although he did not view himself as particularly devout until he chose to attend a theological college as a teenager. In 2020 he stated that he was married