Over 1,000 Gather for 4th Gwangju Queer Culture Festival on November 29
Anti-Discrimination Law Opposition Rally Held 500 Meters Away
Police Step Up Security to Prevent Clashes Along Parade Routes
Rainbow flags and group flags are fluttering at the queer culture festival held around Geumnam-ro, Gwangju. Photo by X
The 4th Gwangju Queer Culture Festival was held on November 29 around Geumnam-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju. Under the slogan "Mudeung: Absolute Equality in Rainbow Colors," the event brought together sexual minorities and supportive citizens, and by the afternoon, the area around Geumnam-ro was filled with a crowd of about 1,000 people.
At the festival site, booths set up by human rights, labor, and youth organizations offered souvenirs and hands-on activities. To ensure safety, the organizers operated a human rights violation monitoring team wearing yellow vests and instructed participants to report any illegal filming immediately. The event was also notable for being held in cooperation with the Gwangju Human Rights Office of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea.
On the 29th, the Gwangju Queer Culture Festival is taking place in the Geumnam-ro area of Dong-gu, Gwangju. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
The organizers announced in advance that a counter-protest would be held nearby on Geumnam-ro, advising participants to avoid disembarking in the area and to evacuate immediately rather than respond directly in case of danger.
About 500 meters from Geumnam-ro, the "Gwangju-Jeonnam Citizens' Coalition Against the Enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act," composed of Christian and conservative groups, held a separate rally to voice opposition to the enactment of the anti-discrimination law. Since the two rallies were held at different locations, there have been no physical clashes so far. Police have deployed personnel in the area and are monitoring the situation, as both groups' parades are scheduled to end at Geumnam Park.
This year's festival will also feature a performance in which participants sing "March for the Beloved" together at 5:18 p.m. in front of the Geumnam-ro clock tower, a symbol of the citizens' uprising during the May 18 Democratic Uprising. The organizers explained that this carries symbolic significance, connecting Gwangju's historical spaces with contemporary human rights awareness.
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