queer in korea: fast facts
Legal Status of Homosexuality
Homosexuals in Korea have no established tradition of overtly discriminatory laws to struggle against. There are no sodomy laws proscribing oral or anal intercourse, largely because these acts have traditionally been considered utterly unmentionable in any public forum or document. Homosexuality has never been brought before Korean courts. No one has mentioned homosexuality in any divorce proceedings, custody or adoption battles.
Social Acceptance and Being "Out"
Gays and lesbians may find they are treated shabbily. Because of the stigma most gays are still unwilling to come out of the closet fearful of the consequences in a highly conservative and homophobic society.Supporters of gay men and lesbians, called the "iban" community in Korean, say Korea is about 40 years behind the West in recognizing gay rights. It is just a matter of time for more support to arise, they say. The gay and lesbian community in Korea is at a crossroads, residing in a place where it is rejected by mainstream institutions but accepted and growing in small niches mainly in and around Seoul.
Are gay people out to their families?
Although gay life here is growing somewhat, Korea is still highly embedded in Confucian ways. The permanency and regular meetings that a westerner sometimes expects in a relationship is virtually non-existent. Koreans are bound by secrecy, mandatory drinking appointments by senior work associates and friends, mandatory military service, university and family commitments. Koreans see realtionships in a different light than westerners and rarely, even in heterosexual relationships, is the partner considered "number one". Culturally, Koreans are expected to marry by the late 20's so it is not unusual to see a gay Korean marry after leading a very gay active life. It is also not unusual to meet a Korean over 30 who is married with a family and leading a dual life with a secret gay lover.
Can I be out to my friends and co-workers?
We advise to be cautious with telling people about your sexuality. If you are a (white) foreigner, you automatically have more privilege than local Koreans. You may have noticed that foreign teachers get paid a *lot* more than their Korean counterparts who may be equally qualified, and that Western foreigners usually get better conditions and treatment than Korean staff. However, there is racism against Africans, African Americans, mixed race Koreans, and other Asians. Miigrant workers have an especially hard time here.
The priviliege of being a foreigner and positioned outside of Korean societymeans that you may be open about your sexuality to Korean friends and colleagues, but caution is advised, especially with employers.
Public Displays of Affection
You should note that Korean men and women may show lots of physical affection towards each other, like walking around hand in hand or draping arms around shoulders but this is merely an expression of friendship and nothing more. It is common practice in many Asian
countries.
Queer Milestones
1995 First gay and lesbian group, called "Come Together", is formed on Yonsei University Campus, Seoul. Students at Seoul National University formed Ma-Um 001, a group dedicated to rights of sexual minorities. Korea University then formed its own gay group, "People with People," in the same year.
1995 First lesbian committment ceremony.
1997 Attempts to hold first Queer Film and Video festival fails when festival is banned.
2000 First "gay show" in Korea, claims the producer of the Hahahoho Show, featuring an all-gay cast of nine homosexuals and nine transsexuals.
2000 Hong Seok-chon, a popular TV comedian /actor, was pressed to out himself and is subsequently fired from his prime time show amid much controversy-perhaps the biggest and most dramatic in modern Korea.
Hong Seok-chon and his partner now own and run Our Place Restaurant and Bar in Itaewon, Seoul. He is Korea's first openly gay celebrity.
2001 The Ministry of Information and Communications formally enacted an internet content rating system classifying gay and lesbian websites as "harmful media" and mandating their blockage--all under the guise of protecting youth. First gay and lesbian website www.exzone.com is banned by the government, but a lawsuit is filed.
2001 National Human Rights Commission of South Korea agreed that negative and bigoted definitions of homosexuality should be removed from Korean dictionaries.
2003 National Human Rights Commission of South Korea calls for the lifting of the ban on gay and lesbian websites.
2004 First public gay wedding.
2005 Gay activitist arrested for refusing to do compuslory military service.
News Articles and Essays
February 2006 OhMyNews: Soldiers discharged for homosexuality
December 2005 Chosun Ilbo: Most Lesbians Suffer Discriminiation
July 2005 The Korea Times: Ignorance Obstacle to Lesbian Human Rights
August 2004 Lesbian Nation: Courts reject ruling on lesbian separation
June 2004 Korea Herald Interview with Hong Sock-Choen: Gay Community at the Crossroads
March 2004 Amnesty International: Korean Gay Rights Activitist Detained
March 2004 OhMyNews: First Gay Wedding in Seoul
March 2003 The Gully: Life and Death in Queer Korea: (a four part series)
October 2003 San Francisco Chronicla: Gay Actor on Comeback After Coming Out
September 2002 e.Peak: Viewing the Visible Minority: the State of LGBT People in Korea
2001 Encyclopedia of Sexuality: South Korea (long but interesting essay)
2001 Gay Korea: A Paradigm is Shifting
2001 Christian Science Monitor: South Korea: Gay Confession Ignites Debate
1999 Village Voice: Gay is Global
1998 My Queer Korea: Identity, Space, and the 1998 Seoul Queer Film & Video Festival