New Queer Festival Venue is Euljiro... "Will March on Main Roads"

The Seoul Queer Culture Festival (Queer Festival), where sexual minorities gather, will be held in Euljiro this year instead of Seoul Plaza. The organizers are determined to hold the Queer Festival in defiance of Seoul City's discriminatory administration.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 7th, the Seoul Queer Culture Festival Organizing Committee (Organizing Committee) announced at a press conference held by the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy in Jongno-gu, Seoul, that the Queer Festival will take place in the Euljiro area of Jung-gu, Seoul on the 1st of next month. The parade will proceed through areas including Euljiro 2-ga, Seoul Plaza, and major downtown roads. A representative of the Organizing Committee stated, "We will hold the Queer Festival as scheduled on the day," and added, "This year, 150,000 people are expected to participate in the Queer Festival."

Since its inception in 2000, the Queer Festival has been held at Seoul Plaza starting from 2015. This year marks the first time since 2015 that the use of Seoul Plaza has been denied. On the 3rd of last month, the Seoul Open Plaza Operation Citizens Committee (Citizens Committee) denied permission for the Queer Festival, prompting the Organizing Committee to search for a new venue. Instead of the Queer Festival, the Citizens Committee approved the 'Youth and Young Adult Recovery Concert' organized by the Christian group CTS Foundation, which is scheduled during the same period. According to the 'Ordinance on the Use and Management of Seoul Plaza,' events related to children and youth have priority in the Citizens Committee's review and approval process.

On the 1st, the Organizing Committee reported the assembly to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Seoul Namdaemun Police Station, and Jongno Police Station while seeking an alternative location to Seoul Plaza. After consultations with the police regarding traffic control and security for Philip Goldberg, the U.S. Ambassador to Korea, the venue was finalized. A representative of the Organizing Committee said, "The most important factor in choosing Euljiro was safety," and added, "Along with safety, we carefully considered the parade route, which will include Seoul Plaza and major roads."

Furthermore, the Organizing Committee criticized Seoul City for discriminating against sexual minorities. They stated, "We will meet sexual minorities and supporters in the heart of Seoul," and added, "We will resist and cultivate culture together in opposition to Seoul City's discriminatory administration."