Gay Life South Korea

Contents:

• THE BT GAY BARS SEOUL
• SEOUL’S 12 BT GAY BARS JONGNO
• THE BEST SOUTH KOREA GAY CLUBS & BARSGAY CLUBS & BARS SOUTH KOREA
• GAY BARS SOUTH KOREA YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
• GAY SOUTH KOREA TRAVEL GUI
• GAY LIFE SOUTH KOREA

THE BT GAY BARS SEOUL

ReviewTripsAlertsSign CartSeoulSeoul TourismSeoul HotelsSeoul Vatn RentalsFlights to SeoulSeoul RtrantsThgs to Do SeoulSeoul Travel FomSeoul PhotosSeoul MapSeoul Travel GuiSeoul Bed and BreakfastHotelsAll Seoul HotelsSeoul Hotel DealsLast Mute Hotels SeoulSeoul MotelsSeoul CampgroundsSeoul HostelsSeoul CasosSeoul Green HotelsRomantic Hotels SeoulSeoul Spa RortsSeoul Bs HotelsSeoul Fay HotelsSeoul Luxury HotelsSeoul Rorts4-Star Hotels Seoul5-Star Hotels Seoul3-Star Hotels SeoulH Avenue Hotels SeoulLotte Hotels & Rorts SeoulMarrtt Autograph Collectn Hotels SeoulMoxy Hotels SeoulFraser Place Hotels SeoulIbis Styl Hotels SeoulBenikea Hotels SeoulNovotel Hotels SeoulWyndham Hotels SeoulHyatt Hotels SeoulInterContental (IHG) Hotels SeoulAcr Hotels SeoulBt Wtern Hotels SeoulHilton Hotels SeoulLotte Cy Hotels SeoulPet Friendly Hotels SeoulSeoul Hotels wh Free ParkgSeoul Hotels wh PoolsDaehakno HotelsDaejo-dong HotelsGangnam-gu HotelsIhwa-dong HotelsChungjeongno-dong HotelsSadang-dong HotelsIkseon-dong HotelsSanggye-dong HotelsSeoul Affordable HotelsSeoul Apartment HotelsBoutique Hotels SeoulSeoul Downtown HotelsSue Hotels SeoulHotels wh Shuttle SeoulSeoul Hotels wh BoatsSeoul Hotels wh Bike RentalsSeoul Hotels wh Allergy-ee roomsSeoul Hotels wh Hot TubsHotels near Seoul MetroHotels near Gyeongbokgung PalaceHotels near Myeongdong Shoppg StreetHotels near N Seoul TowerHotels near InsadongHotels near Bchon Hanok VillageHotels near Changokgung PalaceHotels near The War Memorial of KoreaHotels near Cheonggyecheon StreamHotels near Lotte WorldHotels near HannamHotels near GmhoHotels near OksuHotels near SgmhoHotels near YaksuHotels near HangangjHotels near BeotigogaeHotels near Gangnam-gu OfficeHotels near ApgujeongHotels near EungbongHotels near Incheon Intl Airport (ICN)Hotels near Gimpo Intl Airport (GMP)Motels near Gimpo Intl Airport (GMP)Motels near Incheon Intl Airport (ICN)Hotels near Hanyang UniversyHotels near Seoul Natnal Universy of EdutnHotels near Kyonggi UniversyHotels near Soongsil UniversyHotels near Seoul Natnal UniversyHotels near Sungkyul UniversyHotels near Sookmyung Women's UniversyHotels near Dongg UniversyHotels near Seokyeong UniversyHotels near Dsung Women's UniversyPopular All-Inclive RortsPopular Beach RortsPopular Fay RortsPopular All-Inclive HotelsPopular Hotels Wh WaterparksPopular Honeymoon RortsPopular Luxury RortsPopular All-Inclive Fay RortsPopular Golf RortsPopular Spa RortsPopular Cheap RortsThgs to DoAll thgs to do SeoulNightlife SeoulBudget-iendlyFree EntryGood for a Ray DayGood for KidsGood for CouplGood for Big GroupsHoneymoon spotGood for Adrenale SeekersHidn GemsAdventuroBars & Clubs SeoulBlu Bars SeoulCigar Bars SeoulGay Bars SeoulJazz Bars SeoulKaraoke Bars SeoulDance Clubs & Diss SeoulCoffeeho SeoulWe Bars SeoulBar, Club & Pub Tours SeoulNightlife Nonhyeon-dongNightlife Ssa-dong (Gangnam-gu)Nightlife Cheongdam-dongNightlife Yeoksam-dongNightlife Sajik-dongNightlife Samcheong-dongNightlife Gangnam-guNightlife Seocho-guNightlife Schon / EwhaNightlife Samcheongdong / BchonNightlife Ssa / GarosugilNightlife HongdaeNightlife Gwanghwamun / JongnoNightlife Gangnam / Nonhyeon / YeoksamNightlife DaehaknoShoppg SeoulTours & Activi SeoulMms SeoulFun & Gam SeoulSights & Landmarks SeoulSpas & Wellns SeoulOutdoor Activi SeoulFood & Drk SeoulClass & Workshops SeoulNature & Parks SeoulTransportatn SeoulDay Trips SeoulTheater & Concerts SeoulBoat Tours & Water Sports SeoulTraveller Rourc SeoulArt Galleri SeoulAntique Shops SeoulDepartment Stor SeoulFactory Outlets SeoulFlea & Street Markets SeoulShoppg Malls SeoulSpecialy & Gift Shops SeoulFarmers Markets SeoulFashn Shows & Tours SeoulShoppg Tours SeoulAllswell Communi Holiday Parks - parent brand SeoulScenic Railroads SeoulSightseeg Tours SeoulFactory Tours SeoulB Tours SeoulSegway Tours SeoulWalkg Tours SeoulBoat Rentals SeoulGondola Cis SeoulKayakg & Canoeg SeoulParasailg & Paraglidg SeoulRiver Raftg & Tubg SeoulScuba & Snorkellg SeoulSubmare Tours SeoulSurfg & Wdsurfg SeoulWaterskig & Jetskig SeoulArt Galleri SeoulArt Mms SeoulChildren's Mms SeoulHistory Mms SeoulMilary Mms SeoulNatural History Mms SeoulScience Mms SeoulObservatori & Plaariums SeoulSpecialy Mms SeoulPlaygrounds SeoulMovie Theaters SeoulGame & Entertament Centers SeoulHorse Tracks SeoulBowlg Alleys SeoulSports Complex SeoulEspe Gam SeoulSvenger Hunts SeoulShootg Rang SeoulMiature Golf SeoulPat & Pottery Studs SeoulAncient Rus SeoulArchectural Buildgs SeoulBridg SeoulCemeteri SeoulCivic Centr SeoulRelig S SeoulEdutnal s SeoulGovernment Buildgs SeoulHistoric S SeoulHistoric Walkg Areas SeoulMilary Bas & Facili SeoulMonuments & Statu SeoulNeighborhoods SeoulObservatn Decks & Towers SeoulScenic Driv SeoulHealth Clubs SeoulHammams & Turkish Baths SeoulThermal Spas SeoulYoga & Pilat SeoulBeach & Pool Clubs SeoulGolf Cours SeoulHorseback Ridg Tours SeoulJoggg Paths & Tracks SeoulScenic Driv SeoulHikg Trails SeoulSports Camps & Clics SeoulGear Rentals SeoulBoat Rentals SeoulGondola Cis SeoulKayakg & Canoeg SeoulParasailg & Paraglidg SeoulRiver Raftg & Tubg SeoulScuba & Snorkellg SeoulSubmare Tours SeoulBreweri SeoulDistilleri SeoulBeer Tastgs & Tours SeoulCoffee & Tea Tours SeoulCookg Class SeoulFood Tours SeoulWe Tours & Tastgs SeoulWe Bars SeoulFarmers Markets SeoulDistillery Tours SeoulSports Camps & Clics SeoulLsons & Workshops SeoulCookg Class SeoulPat & Pottery Studs SeoulIslands SeoulPlaygrounds SeoulCaverns & Cav SeoulForts SeoulGarns SeoulHot Sprgs & Geysers SeoulMaras SeoulMountas SeoulNatnal Parks SeoulNature & Wildlife Areas SeoulHikg Trails SeoulValleys SeoulWaterfalls SeoulBodi of Water SeoulTrams SeoulPublic Transportatn Systems SeoulTaxis & Shuttl SeoulB Servic SeoulRail Servic SeoulBlu Bars SeoulJazz Bars SeoulTheatre & Performanc SeoulOperas SeoulDner Theaters SeoulBoat Rentals SeoulGondola Cis SeoulKayakg & Canoeg SeoulParasailg & Paraglidg SeoulRiver Raftg & Tubg SeoulScuba & Snorkellg SeoulSubmare Tours SeoulSurfg & Wdsurfg SeoulWaterskig & Jetskig SeoulDuck Tours SeoulFishg Charters & Tours SeoulStand Up Paddleboardg SeoulConventn Centers SeoulLibrari SeoulVisor Centers SeoulAirport Loung SeoulThgs to Do Jongno-guThgs to Do Jung-guThgs to Do Jongno 1.2.3.4 ga-dongThgs to Do Gangnam-guThgs to Do Mapo-guThgs to Do Yongsan-guThgs to Do Myeong-dongThgs to Do Samcheongdong / BchonThgs to Do Myeongdong / NamdaemunThgs to Do Songpa-guThgs to Do Seocho-guThgs to Do Samcheong-dongThgs to Do SeodaemunThgs to Do HongdaeThgs to Do Jong-roGyeongbokgung Palace: Tickets & Tours‎Bhansan Natnal Park: Tickets & Tours‎Myeongdong Shoppg Street: Tickets & Tours‎Changokgung Palace: Tickets & Tours‎The War Memorial of Korea: Tickets & Tours‎Natnal Mm of Korea: Tickets & Tours‎Insadong: Tickets & Tours‎Lotte World Tower & Mall: Tickets & Tours‎Seoul Metro: Tickets & Tours‎Hangang Park: Tickets & Tours‎N Seoul Tower: Tickets & Tours‎Namsan Park: Tickets & Tours‎Myeongdong NANTA Theater: Tickets & Tours‎Cheonggyecheon Stream: Tickets & Tours‎Jogya Temple: Tickets & Tours‎Thgs to do near Gyeongbokgung PalaceThgs to do near Bhansan Natnal ParkThgs to do near Myeongdong Shoppg StreetThgs to do near Changokgung PalaceThgs to do near The War Memorial of KoreaThgs to do near Natnal Mm of KoreaThgs to do near InsadongThgs to do near Lotte World Tower & MallThgs to do near KTX (Korea Tra Exprs)Thgs to do near Seoul MetroThgs to do near Hangang ParkThgs to do near N Seoul TowerThgs to do near Namsan ParkThgs to do near Cheonggyecheon StreamThgs to do near Jogya TempleThgs to do near Incheon Intl Airport (ICN)Thgs to do near Gimpo Intl Airport (GMP)Thgs to do near Yonsei UniversyThgs to do near Seoul Natnal UniversyThgs to do near Hanyang UniversyThgs to do near Hank Universy of Foreign StudiThgs to do near Universy of SeoulThgs to do near Sookmyung Women's UniversyThgs to do near Myongji UniversyThgs to do near Soongsil UniversyThgs to do near Seoul Women's UniversyThgs to do near Dsung Women's UniversyThgs to do near Seoul Natnal Universy of EdutnThgs to do near Sung Kyun Kwan UniversyThgs to do near Konk UniversyThgs to do near Sogang UniversyThgs to do near JW Marrtt Hotel SeoulThgs to do near Hotel Na Seoul MGallery AmbassadorThgs to do near GLAD Hotel YeouidoThgs to do near Sofel Ambassador Seoul Hotel & Serviced RincThgs to do near GLAD Gangnam COEX CenterThgs to do near GLAD MapoThgs to do near Mercure Ambassador Seoul HongdaeThgs to do near Fairmont Ambassador SeoulThgs to do near Ambassador Seoul - PullmanThgs to do near Lotte Cy Hotels GuroThgs to do near Hotel PJ MyeongdongThgs to do near R Hoe HongdaeThgs to do near Oakwood Premier Coex CenterThgs to do near Hotel Skypark Dongdaemun IThgs to do near Four Seasons Hotel SeoulGilroy Garns Fay Theme ParkJan Island State ParkMount EvansShagawa AquariumMonkchat Medatn RetreatGrote KnipSdbad Amement ParkSmh Lake ParkTaman Negara Natnal ParkStoneville SaloonSEA LIFE Aquarium Mnota Admissn Ticket at Mall of AmeriHarlem Jazz SeriMontserrat wh Cogwheel tra, Tastg a Boutique Wery wh Tapas or LunchBoogi & Polaris - Extreme Adventure Punta CanaFANTASTIC NATURAL AQUARIUM San Andr IslandsCyBySee Hop On-Hop Off - Green Le Godfather Tour - Half DayManatee Snorkel Tour om Amerin Pro Divg CenterBoat Party and Yacht Rental PortofoUtah Spy Adventure3 Days Mdfulns Yoga Retreat NepalRtrantsFlightsVatn RentalsTravel StoriCisRental CarsToursAdd a PlaceTravel FomAirlTravel GuisRoad TripsHelp CenterAsiaSouth KoreaSeoulThgs to Do SeoulGay Bars SeoulGay Clubs & Bars SeoulAll thgs to doCategory typAttractnsToursDay TripsOutdoor ActiviConcerts & ShowsFood & DrkEventsClass & WorkshopsShoppgTransportatnTraveler RourcTyp of AttractnsNightlifeNightlifeBars & ClubsBar, Club & Pub ToursDance Clubs & DissJazz Clubs & BarsWe BarsCigar BarsKaraoke BarsCoffeehoBlu Clubs & BarsGay Clubs & BarsTraveler ratgNeighborhoodsItaewonYongsan-guGood forGood for CouplBudget-iendlyGood for KidsGood for Big GroupsHoneymoon spotGood for Adrenale SeekersHidn GemsFree EntryAdventuroGood for a Ray Day1 place sorted by traveler favorClear all filters1. Sce the 1990s, the natn’s iban (“이반” or Korean for “queer”) muny has nonted a society nstraed by iologil barriers old and new—Confucian prcipl and anti-gay Christian activists.

And while Seoul still isn’t Asia’s queer paradise, there are over 100 lbian and (mostly) gay bars Korea’s pal, not to mentn one of the ntent’s longt-nng LGBT paras and film ftivals.

SEOUL’S 12 BT GAY BARS JONGNO

Loted the shadow of the Nagwon Ar, this charmg spot b the bt of Seoul’s petg gay bar cultur—the timacy and iendls of the typil Jongno hnt wh stylish dér and eedom to chew expensive anju snacks.

THE BEST SOUTH KOREA GAY CLUBS & BARSGAY CLUBS & BARS SOUTH KOREA

A fortable atmosphere to drk a beer or cktail alone or wh iends, seats up to 45 (large by Jongno standards) and is one of the few gay bars outsi of Itaewon where you’ll ocsnally see non-Koreans. Plastered red rose wallpaper (at least last I checked), the attractive gay cktail bar is ually packed on weekends and is one of the neighborhood’s most nsistently good statns.

Jt off the ma drag the heart of gay Seoul’s Nagwon-dong neighborhood, GQ is one of a fair number of bars that ter (often exclively) to bears, the hky middle-aged gay man wh as much body hair as Korean gen will allow.

Guggenheim Mm TicketCultural Experience & Seasonal Māori Cuise at Te Pā TūRtrantsFlightsVatn RentalsTravel StoriCisRental CarsToursAdd a PlaceTravel FomAirlTravel GuisRoad TripsHelp CenterAsiaSouth KoreaThgs to Do South KoreaGay Bars South KoreaGay Clubs & Bars South KoreaAll thgs to doCategory typAttractnsToursDay TripsOutdoor ActiviConcerts & ShowsFood & DrkEventsClass & WorkshopsShoppgTransportatnTraveler RourcTyp of AttractnsNightlifeNightlifeBars & ClubsBar, Club & Pub ToursDance Clubs & DissJazz Clubs & BarsKaraoke BarsWe BarsCigar BarsBlu Clubs & BarsCoffeehoGay Clubs & BarsTraveler ratgNeighborhoodsItaewonYongsan-guGood forGood for CouplBudget-iendlyGood for KidsGood for Big GroupsHoneymoon spotGood for Adrenale SeekersHidn GemsFree EntryAdventuroGood for a Ray Day1 place sorted by traveler favorClear all filters1. Special thanks to Ross, Travelg Gay, jtsurf12, spartanalum, PJack, gymtoy, Chichubby3rd, byungdohsuh, Demian71, boyboy1976, Gabrielkr, njbear1965, rayrrr, geme, cyrc_84, sglenote, KokAsianBear, themeant, FloridaBoy, bigozibear, ratte, Specter, Byungdohsuh, Graeme, Ken, Jyong, Robbie, Louis Y., John S., Charlie, and David! Seoul has hundreds of gay bars spread around a handful of neighborhoods, but most tourists bee faiar wh Itaewon, a foreigner-iendly enclave that seems to have people om every untry on the pla wanrg around, along wh many Amerin and Korean soldiers.

GAY BARS SOUTH KOREA YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

The clientele is VERY mixed both as to orientatn (gay, lez, bi, straight, other) as well as ethnicy, wh beg the one of the most popular LGBTQ night spots for foreigners Korea. Jongno is Seoul's biggt gay enclave, wh more than a hundred clubs and venu loted the center of Seoul the Nagwon Dong neighborhood to the north and east of Topkol Park (Inpennce Park). While there are very ltle rights protectg LGBT cizens, South Korea's tolerance of the LGBT muny is growg and a gay neighborhood exists the cy of Seoul where visors n enjoy the nightlife to the early hours of the morng.

Beg Asian Amerin and LGBTQ+ n feel lonely, wh stutns such as ethnic church often disavowg non-heterosexual relatnships while tradnal LGBTQ+ spac such as gay bars n be unwelg to people of lor. “Fdg plac like GAMeBoi, where beg queer and Asian do -exist … It’s not like a 1, 000-year-old Korean cultural rual, but I uld create a new rual, ” said Ahn, a recent Friday, hundreds packed QT Nightlife’s monthly K-Pop Night at Micky’s, a Wt Hollywood gay club a block or so east om the old GAMeBoi posed for selfi a pk Barbie box wh dis balls hangg overhead. ” (Michael Owen Baker / For The Tim) Even historilly gay neighborhoods like Wt Hollywood or San Francis’s Castro district, Asian Amerins have long been ignored or fetishized, seen as feme and weak.

In 2019, then-Wt Hollywood Mayor John Duran argued that he did not appropriately touch a member of the Gay Men’s Chos of Los Angel bee “he’s a skny Korean kid wh pimpl on his cheek. ” Asian Amerin advocy groups cricized Duran’s remark, wh API Equaly-LA potg to the long history of discrimatn agast Asian men gay muni such as Wt Hollywood, whose clubs “ed to require three forms of photo intifitn om anyone they perceived as Asian.

GAY SOUTH KOREA TRAVEL GUI

Mostly hidn clubs and bars, pigeon-holed off to late dancg or drkg wh iends and stashed far om fay bs, gay Koreans live wh a very strong heterosexual tradn that clus more than jt the expectatns of takg a spoe. There are no gay paras here yet but a few gay anizatns have formed such as Kirikiri and Sappho (lbian groups), Chgai (gay men’s group) and the Coaln of Stunt Gay Rights Groups.

GAY LIFE SOUTH KOREA

From fluorcent donut shops to the sleazy dim trigue of massage parlors sportg red velvet sofas, the noisy and trendy straight diss, div and fast food jots offers enough distractn and amement to mask a dozen gay bars and diss. Itaewon is also home to other gay venu such as Zipper (s possible to fall down the stairs bee the lightg is poor), Out Class (quiet, good for chattg), Trance (drag show on weekends), Why Not? The Gay Korea webse has this helpful advice: “There are many small bars loted the center of Seoul the Nag Weon Dong neighborhood to the north and east of Topkol Park (Inpennce Park).

On Augt 4, 2000, the ‘Korea Herald’ newspaper reported a ntroversial new arrival Seoul: “The first show of s kd ever staged notorly homophobic Korea, the Hahahoho Show featur an all-gay st of ne homosexuals and ne transsexuals. In numero magaz, TV and rad talks shows and newspapers, cludg the Christian Science Monor of January 17, 2001, Hong Seok-chon’s real life story put homosexualy onto the natnal circu. Some abhorred the immoraly threateng tradnal valu while others wanted him to stand up and be proud, seeg him as wrg a new page Korea’s long reprsed attus about sexualy, pecially gay rights.

Sce began 1998, this non-petive, non-mercial biennial event–whose ma goal is to change Korea’s homophobic attus–has had a great impact on Korean dienc who were prevly left the dark about the subject.

The ftival was reported the Korean Herald of Augt 4, 2000: “Among the most notable movi on the 2000 program are “Boys Don’t Cry” (1999), the te story of a girl who pass herself off as a boy; “The World’s Happit Gay Couple, ” an animated work that won nsirable attentn and praise at the 2000 Puchon Internatnal Film Ftival; and “Queer as Folk, ” the popular Brish TV drama on gay youths. “As far for the specific program, the event was divid to five major tegori: “Gay Boys go to the Theater/Gay Girls go to the Theater”; “Lbian, Gay, Transgenr Documentary, ” the short film sectn; miscellaneo; and the Korean film segment… The Korean film sectn was a ftival highlight as anizers poted out the latent homosexualy some of Korea’s most reprentative films. The power of the Inter’s technology, the sire for Saturday night entertament, urageo and betiful crossdrsers, the impact of a TV personaly, a fiant film ftival and the quiet validatn of support groups–no one of the will break the prejudice of Korea’s anti-gay nce.

Special thanks to mansaoz, kimyong, PJack, MTguy, aznpoo, ernst, ernst, gaysoulpas, brizner, reoboy500, johnuis, alwaystravln, ABC, byungdohsuh, Jason, marcr, BrianT, JiHoon, barry_bonk, neosko, junrz, ryoo, Nena, grgo_nb, , laislili, chobapgirl, YKK, OrangeTaBomb, Ellisa, Melo, Star Kim, Rebecka, Allison D., Patrice H., Grace, Ple, Isabelle, Gq, MWK, David, Jack G., Sean, Marc R., Han-Su, Jimmy K., Chad, Mark, C. The Mistry acted after an April 2001 cisn by the Korean Informatn and Communitns Ethics Commtee (ICEC)--an officially pennt body wh wi censorship powers--which classified homosexualy unr the tegory of "obsceny and perversn" s "Creria for Incent Inter S. The owner of, the first and largt gay webse Korea, received a notice statg that if did not immediately mark self as a 'harmful se' and stall filterg software to prevent youth accs, he would be penalized wh a fe of approximately US$10, 000 or two years imprisonment.

On January 10, 2002, affiliatn wh Lbian and Gay Alliance Agast Discrimatn (LGAAD) and the Lawyers for a Democratic Society filed the first lawsu agast Korean ernment for unnstutnally blockg accs. A urt cisn was ma on Augt 14, 2002 that eedom of speech and exprsn were not applible regardg homosexualy, and allowed for outrageo penalti, cludg two year imprisonment, to be enforced.

On April 2, 2003 the Korean Natnal Human Rights Protectn Commtee officially advised Korea's Youth Protectn Commtee to remove anti-gay language om the 1997 Youth Protectn Act that that unrpned the 2001 Mistry of Informatn and Communitns cisn.

Chgai has served as a shelter for Korean gay men, who have no official or public voice of their own, and as an arena for stggle agast all prejudice and opprsn directed at homosexuals.