Queer Festival Held at Seoul Plaza After 3 Years... Opposition Rally Across the Street

Different Opinions on Enacting the Anti-Discrimination Law
LGBTQ+ Groups "Hope the Anti-Discrimination Law is Enacted This Year"
Conservative Groups "Anti-Discrimination Law Promotes Homosexuality"
Conservative Member Prevented from Entering Queer Festival

On the afternoon of the 16th at around 2 PM, the 23rd Seoul Queer Culture Festival was held at Seoul Plaza. On this day, booths from 72 related organizations and groups were set up, and about 13,000 people attended.
Photo by Gong Byung-seon mydillon@

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] "Homosexuals who destroy families and overthrow the Republic of Korea, step back!" In front of Exit 5 of City Hall Station located in Jung-gu, Seoul, people gathered to participate in the Seoul Queer Culture Festival (Queer Festival) were first met with intense opposition slogans from conservative groups. Participants in the anti-homosexuality rally lined up in front of City Hall Station holding placards with phrases such as "Oppose the harmful provisions of the Anti-Discrimination Act" and "Homosexuality is a mental illness." At the entrance to the Queer Festival venue, the festival organizers and some citizens also had disputes over entry.

At around 2 p.m. on the 16th, the 23rd Seoul Queer Culture Festival, a festival for sexual minorities, was held at Seoul Plaza. This outdoor festival, held for the first time in three years since 2019, was attended by about 13,000 people. The Queer Festival also featured booths from a total of 72 related organizations, companies, and groups, including the "Korea Queer Film Festival," offering various attractions.

The festival began with pre-events around 11 a.m. At 4 p.m., a march was held throughout various parts of downtown Seoul. After the march, celebratory performances were scheduled to continue at Seoul Plaza from 7 p.m.

On the 16th, simultaneous sign language interpretation was also provided at the Seoul Queer Culture Festival.
Photo by Gong Byung-sun mydillon@

A diverse group of people gathered at the festival that day. Not only same-sex couples but also opposite-sex couples, foreigners, and students attended the festival. Sexual minority groups from various universities also participated, adding their voices. Sign language interpretation was provided throughout the event to support the hearing impaired.

Sexual minority organizations emphasized the necessity of the Anti-Discrimination Act. A participant at the festival said, "We hope this year will be remembered as the year the Anti-Discrimination Act is enacted," and urged, "Sexual minorities, please tell yourselves and those around you to 'survive'."

On the 16th, a conservative group held a rally opposing the Seoul Queer Culture Festival on Sejong-daero, across from Seoul Plaza. About 15,000 people attended the rally that day.
/Photo by Gong Byung-sun mydillon@

On the opposite side of Seoul Plaza, a rally opposing the sexual minority festival was held by conservative groups. About 15,000 people gathered across 4 to 5 lanes of Sejong-daero shouted slogans opposing homosexuality. One rally participant said, "Seoul city officials should not cooperate with such evil," adding, "If homosexuality spreads, it will become like Sodom and Gomorrah." Sodom and Gomorrah are cities mentioned in the Bible that fell due to corruption and sin.

The conservative groups demanded opposition to the Anti-Discrimination Act. Rally participants shouted, "The Anti-Discrimination Act is a reverse discrimination law that gags people's mouths," and "Please agree to oppose the Anti-Discrimination Act, which is the same as the law spreading homosexuality and AIDS."

The sexual minority groups and conservative groups, who held rallies and festivals across Sejong-daero from each other, did not have serious conflicts. However, some members of the conservative groups held placards at the entrances of City Hall Station and the Queer Festival, shouting slogans opposing sexual minorities. Some citizens holding fans with the phrase "Oppose the enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act" tried to enter the Queer Festival but were stopped by the police.

The police deployed 58 companies to prevent chaos and controlled the festival, rallies, and traffic. Additionally, defensive barriers were set up around Seoul Plaza.