THE BEST Seoul Gay Clubs & Bars (Updated 2023) - Tripadvisor

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• THE 11 BT LGBT BARS SEOUL | © PEXELS LDA DUNSMORE 26 MAY 2020 COPY LK FACEBOOK EMAIL TWTER PTERT SOUTH KOREA’S BTLG PAL IS NOT ONLY A MAJOR HUB FOR MIC, FASHN, AND ENTERTAMENT. THE LOL GAY SCENE HAS BEEN GROWG RECENT YEARS, AND MORE AND MORE LGBT TABLISHMENTS HAVE POPPED UP. HERE ARE THE ELEVEN BT LGBT BARS SEOUL. VIEW ALL TRIPS OWOO BAR, CONTEMPORARY SHARE ADD TO PLAN COPY LK FACEBOOK EMAIL TWTER PTERT OWOO IS AMONGST THE YOUNGER GAY TABLISHMENTS THE CY. THE BAR HAS A NORDIC TERR WH MANY WOOD FEATUR. THE PLACE HAS BEE SO POPULAR THAT THERE IS ALMOST ALWAYS A LE OUTSI. ONCE YOU’RE , YOU’LL HAVE THE CHOICE BETWEEN LIC DRKS AND FOOD THAT ARE MORATELY PRICED. WE REMEND THE HONEY BUTTER CHIP AND LIC SWEET CRISPY IED CHICKEN. CLUB LABRIS BAR, NIGHTCLUB, CONTEMPORARY SHARE ADD TO PLAN COPY LK FACEBOOK EMAIL TWTER PTERT THE BIGGT LBIAN CLUB SOUTH KOREA, CLUB LABRIS ONLY OPENS S DOORS FRIDAY AND SATURDAYS. THE LIC CKTAILS ARE CRAFTED WH HIGH-QUALY LIQUORS AND JUIC, AND DJ LIMZI HEATS UP THE DANCE FLOOR WH SICK BEATS. ADMISSN IS ONLY FOR LADI, WHICH MIGHT NOT APPEAL TO EVERYONE BUT FELY CREAT A SAFE AND FORTABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE FEMALE PARTY ANIMALS. MOU COCKTAIL BAR, CONTEMPORARY, PUB GB SHARE ADD TO PLAN COPY LK FACEBOOK EMAIL TWTER PTERT MOU IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF NOVATIVE MIXOLOGY KOREA. THE CLUB OFFERS LIC CKTAIL FAVOR LIKE MARTI AND ., BUT ALSO SURPRIS WH THEIR OWN CREATNS SUCH AS LAST WORDS, EARL GREY G TONIC, OR BASIL LIMONCELLO. WHETHER YOU ARE G ALONE OR WH IENDS, YOU WON’T GET BORED AND WILL ALWAYS MAKE NEW IENDS WHEN VISG MOU. MAJESTIC TURKEY TRAVEL OM THE BAZAARS OF ISTANBUL TO THE BETIFUL BEACH OF ANTALYA. VIEW TRIP PL KCHEN RTRANT, CONTEMPORARY, KOREAN SHARE ADD TO PLAN COPY LK FACEBOOK EMAIL TWTER PTERT PL KCHEN IS THE PLACE TO GO FOR WOMEN TO PICK UP WOMEN. HOWEVER, NOT ONLY LADI BUT ALSO GAY MEN ARE WELE HERE. THE PUB FEATUR A LARGE AREA TO MIX AND MGLE AND ENOUGH SPACE TO F ABOUT 80 PEOPLE. TRY OUT THEIR SIGNATURE DRK, Q SHOT, AND BE SURE TO STOP BY ON THE THIRD FRIDAY OF THE MONTH FOR MOVIE NIGHT! HOTEL POCHA BAR, CONTEMPORARY SHARE ADD TO PLAN COPY LK FACEBOOK EMAIL TWTER PTERT THIS LOVELY SOJU BAR DO NOT ONLY OFFER KOREAN ALHOL, BUT ALSO A VARIETY OF SEAFOOD DISH. ON THE WEEKENDS, HOTEL POCHA N GET CROWD BUT ’S FUN TO MEET NEW PEOPLE AND ENJOY THE VIBRANT ATMOSPHERE. GOOD MIC ADDS TO THE RELAXED VIBE AND MAKE THIS CERTALY ONE OF THE BT GAY BARS SEOUL. BEE A CULTURE TRIPPER! SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER TO SAVE UP TO 40% ON OUR UNIQUE TRIPS. SIGN UP SEE PRIVACY POLICY. WHY NOT? BAR, PUB GB SHARE ADD TO PLAN COPY LK FACEBOOK EMAIL TWTER PTERT ANYONE WHO LOV DRAG SHOWS AND CRAZY K-POP SHOULD STOP BY WHY NOT. THIS SMALL GAY BAR PLAYS MIC RANGG OM TECHNO AND HOE TO POP REMIX. THE DRKS ARE LIC, AND THE BAR FOOD IS ALSO WORTH TRYG. THE TABLISHMENT ALSO FEATUR A ROMANTIC PAT WHERE YOU N TCH SOME H AIR. PK HOLE BAR, NIGHTCLUB, CONTEMPORARY SHARE ADD TO PLAN COPY LK FACEBOOK EMAIL TWTER PTERT THE GLAMORO TERR OF PK HOLE IS A TOTAL EYE-TCHER WHEN SETTG FOOT TO THE TABLISHMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE LARGE BAR FEATUR A STAGE, POWR ROOM, AND A VIP ROOM. PK HOLE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST GAY BARS SEOUL AND THE FIRST TO ANIZE LBIAN PARTY EVENTS. LOOKG STAR NIGHTCLUB, GAY BAR, PUB GB SHARE ADD TO PLAN COPY LK FACEBOOK EMAIL TWTER PTERT THE FOUNRS OF LOOKG STAR TOOK TO FACEBOOK AND ASKED SEOUL’S GAY MUNY WHAT THE IAL LGBT CLUB SHOULD BE LIKE. THE RULT WAS A CLUB WH AN EASYGOG ATMOSPHERE, GREAT MIC, AND GOOD FOOD AND DRKS. LOOKG STAR IS ONE OF THE HOTTT PLAC FOR GAY MEN SEOUL. MONG BAR, CONTEMPORARY SHARE ADD TO PLAN COPY LK FACEBOOK EMAIL TWTER PTERT MONG IS ONE OF THOSE PLAC THAT YOU N EASILY VIS BY YOURSELF WHEN ALL YOUR IENDS ARE BY. THE TABLISHMENT IS A H WH LOL AND FOREIGN LBIANS AND ALSO WEL GAY MEN. THE MENU IS HOMEY WH ANIC TEA OPTNS AND STANDARD CKTAILS SUCH AS MARGARAS, MOJOS, AND MORE. IN FACT, THE ATMOSPHERE AT MONG IS SO RELAXG THAT YOU N EVEN SPOT PEOPLE READG BOOKS. THE NE BAR, CONTEMPORARY SHARE ADD TO PLAN COPY LK FACEBOOK EMAIL TWTER PTERT THE NE UNRSTANDS HOW TO MAKE THEIR CTOMERS HAPPY AND OFFERS LIC SOJU AND BEER WH GREASY SNACKS. TRY OUT THEIR EP IED CHICKEN HOT CHILI SCE, AND YOU WILL RETURN WEEKEND AFTER WEEKEND. BEER LOVERS ALSO ENJOY THE EXTENSIVE BEER SELECTN. LE QUEEN GAY BAR, CONTEMPORARY, PUB GB SHARE ADD TO PLAN COPY LK FACEBOOK EMAIL TWTER PTERT LE QUEEN IS A HOTSPOT FOR FIRST-CLASS DRAG SHOWS. THE PROGRAM CHANG EVERY MONTH WH TWO SHOWS PER EVENG. THE FIRST SHOW IS AT 1AM AND THE SEND ONE STARTS AT 3AM. LE QUEEN IS A POPULAR AFTER-HOUR LOTN DUE TO S LATE-NIGHT SHOWS AND LONG OPENG HOURS. VOLNIC ICELAND EPIC TRIP MEET OUR LOL INSIR HANNA HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE? 2 YEARS. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB? IT'S THE PERSONAL NTACT, THE PERSONAL EXPERIENC. I LOVE MEETG PEOPLE OM ALL OVER THE WORLD... I REALLY LIKE GETTG TO KNOW EVERYONE AND FEELG LIKE I'M TRAVELG WH A GROUP OF IENDS. WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST? I HAVE SO MANY PLAC ON MY LIST, BUT I WOULD REALLY LOBE TO GO TO AI. I NSIR MYSELF AN “ADVENTURE GIRL” AND AI FEELS LIKE THE ULTIMATE ADVENTURE! EVERY CULTURE TRIP SMALL-GROUP ADVENTURE IS LED BY A LOL INSIR JT LIKE HANNA. SEE OUR CULTURE TRIPS KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
• THE BT GAY BARS SEOUL
• THE BEST SEOUL GAY CLUBS & BARSGAY CLUBS & BARS SEOUL
• GAY BARS SOUTH KOREA YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
• SEOUL GAY SNAS
• A GAY GUI TO ITAEWON
• GAY SOUTH KOREA TRAVEL GUI
• SEOUL’S 12 BT GAY BARS JONGNO
• SEOUL GAY DANCE CLUBS

THE 11 BT LGBT BARS SEOUL | © PEXELS LDA DUNSMORE 26 MAY 2020 COPY LK FACEBOOK EMAIL TWTER PTERT SOUTH KOREA’S BTLG PAL IS NOT ONLY A MAJOR HUB FOR MIC, FASHN, AND ENTERTAMENT. THE LOL GAY SCENE HAS BEEN GROWG RECENT YEARS, AND MORE AND MORE LGBT TABLISHMENTS HAVE POPPED UP. HERE ARE THE ELEVEN BT LGBT BARS SEOUL. VIEW ALL TRIPS OWOO BAR, CONTEMPORARY SHARE ADD TO PLAN COPY LK FACEBOOK EMAIL TWTER PTERT OWOO IS AMONGST THE YOUNGER GAY TABLISHMENTS THE CY. THE BAR HAS A NORDIC TERR WH MANY WOOD FEATUR. THE PLACE HAS BEE SO POPULAR THAT THERE IS ALMOST ALWAYS A LE OUTSI. ONCE YOU’RE , YOU’LL HAVE THE CHOICE BETWEEN LIC DRKS AND FOOD THAT ARE MORATELY PRICED. WE REMEND THE HONEY BUTTER CHIP AND LIC SWEET CRISPY IED CHICKEN. CLUB LABRIS BAR, NIGHTCLUB, CONTEMPORARY SHARE ADD TO PLAN COPY LK FACEBOOK EMAIL TWTER PTERT THE BIGGT LBIAN CLUB SOUTH KOREA, CLUB LABRIS ONLY OPENS S DOORS FRIDAY AND SATURDAYS. THE LIC CKTAILS ARE CRAFTED WH HIGH-QUALY LIQUORS AND JUIC, AND DJ LIMZI HEATS UP THE DANCE FLOOR WH SICK BEATS. ADMISSN IS ONLY FOR LADI, WHICH MIGHT NOT APPEAL TO EVERYONE BUT FELY CREAT A SAFE AND FORTABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE FEMALE PARTY ANIMALS. MOU COCKTAIL BAR, CONTEMPORARY, PUB GB SHARE ADD TO PLAN COPY LK FACEBOOK EMAIL TWTER PTERT MOU IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF NOVATIVE MIXOLOGY KOREA. THE CLUB OFFERS LIC CKTAIL FAVOR LIKE MARTI AND ., BUT ALSO SURPRIS WH THEIR OWN CREATNS SUCH AS LAST WORDS, EARL GREY G TONIC, OR BASIL LIMONCELLO. WHETHER YOU ARE G ALONE OR WH IENDS, YOU WON’T GET BORED AND WILL ALWAYS MAKE NEW IENDS WHEN VISG MOU. MAJESTIC TURKEY TRAVEL OM THE BAZAARS OF ISTANBUL TO THE BETIFUL BEACH OF ANTALYA. VIEW TRIP PL KCHEN RTRANT, CONTEMPORARY, KOREAN SHARE ADD TO PLAN COPY LK FACEBOOK EMAIL TWTER PTERT PL KCHEN IS THE PLACE TO GO FOR WOMEN TO PICK UP WOMEN. HOWEVER, NOT ONLY LADI BUT ALSO GAY MEN ARE WELE HERE. THE PUB FEATUR A LARGE AREA TO MIX AND MGLE AND ENOUGH SPACE TO F ABOUT 80 PEOPLE. TRY OUT THEIR SIGNATURE DRK, Q SHOT, AND BE SURE TO STOP BY ON THE THIRD FRIDAY OF THE MONTH FOR MOVIE NIGHT! HOTEL POCHA BAR, CONTEMPORARY SHARE ADD TO PLAN COPY LK FACEBOOK EMAIL TWTER PTERT THIS LOVELY SOJU BAR DO NOT ONLY OFFER KOREAN ALHOL, BUT ALSO A VARIETY OF SEAFOOD DISH. ON THE WEEKENDS, HOTEL POCHA N GET CROWD BUT ’S FUN TO MEET NEW PEOPLE AND ENJOY THE VIBRANT ATMOSPHERE. GOOD MIC ADDS TO THE RELAXED VIBE AND MAKE THIS CERTALY ONE OF THE BT GAY BARS SEOUL. BEE A CULTURE TRIPPER! SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER TO SAVE UP TO 40% ON OUR UNIQUE TRIPS. SIGN UP SEE PRIVACY POLICY. WHY NOT? BAR, PUB GB SHARE ADD TO PLAN COPY LK FACEBOOK EMAIL TWTER PTERT ANYONE WHO LOV DRAG SHOWS AND CRAZY K-POP SHOULD STOP BY WHY NOT. THIS SMALL GAY BAR PLAYS MIC RANGG OM TECHNO AND HOE TO POP REMIX. THE DRKS ARE LIC, AND THE BAR FOOD IS ALSO WORTH TRYG. THE TABLISHMENT ALSO FEATUR A ROMANTIC PAT WHERE YOU N TCH SOME H AIR. PK HOLE BAR, NIGHTCLUB, CONTEMPORARY SHARE ADD TO PLAN COPY LK FACEBOOK EMAIL TWTER PTERT THE GLAMORO TERR OF PK HOLE IS A TOTAL EYE-TCHER WHEN SETTG FOOT TO THE TABLISHMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE LARGE BAR FEATUR A STAGE, POWR ROOM, AND A VIP ROOM. PK HOLE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST GAY BARS SEOUL AND THE FIRST TO ANIZE LBIAN PARTY EVENTS. LOOKG STAR NIGHTCLUB, GAY BAR, PUB GB SHARE ADD TO PLAN COPY LK FACEBOOK EMAIL TWTER PTERT THE FOUNRS OF LOOKG STAR TOOK TO FACEBOOK AND ASKED SEOUL’S GAY MUNY WHAT THE IAL LGBT CLUB SHOULD BE LIKE. THE RULT WAS A CLUB WH AN EASYGOG ATMOSPHERE, GREAT MIC, AND GOOD FOOD AND DRKS. LOOKG STAR IS ONE OF THE HOTTT PLAC FOR GAY MEN SEOUL. MONG BAR, CONTEMPORARY SHARE ADD TO PLAN COPY LK FACEBOOK EMAIL TWTER PTERT MONG IS ONE OF THOSE PLAC THAT YOU N EASILY VIS BY YOURSELF WHEN ALL YOUR IENDS ARE BY. THE TABLISHMENT IS A H WH LOL AND FOREIGN LBIANS AND ALSO WEL GAY MEN. THE MENU IS HOMEY WH ANIC TEA OPTNS AND STANDARD CKTAILS SUCH AS MARGARAS, MOJOS, AND MORE. IN FACT, THE ATMOSPHERE AT MONG IS SO RELAXG THAT YOU N EVEN SPOT PEOPLE READG BOOKS. THE NE BAR, CONTEMPORARY SHARE ADD TO PLAN COPY LK FACEBOOK EMAIL TWTER PTERT THE NE UNRSTANDS HOW TO MAKE THEIR CTOMERS HAPPY AND OFFERS LIC SOJU AND BEER WH GREASY SNACKS. TRY OUT THEIR EP IED CHICKEN HOT CHILI SCE, AND YOU WILL RETURN WEEKEND AFTER WEEKEND. BEER LOVERS ALSO ENJOY THE EXTENSIVE BEER SELECTN. LE QUEEN GAY BAR, CONTEMPORARY, PUB GB SHARE ADD TO PLAN COPY LK FACEBOOK EMAIL TWTER PTERT LE QUEEN IS A HOTSPOT FOR FIRST-CLASS DRAG SHOWS. THE PROGRAM CHANG EVERY MONTH WH TWO SHOWS PER EVENG. THE FIRST SHOW IS AT 1AM AND THE SEND ONE STARTS AT 3AM. LE QUEEN IS A POPULAR AFTER-HOUR LOTN DUE TO S LATE-NIGHT SHOWS AND LONG OPENG HOURS. VOLNIC ICELAND EPIC TRIP MEET OUR LOL INSIR HANNA HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE? 2 YEARS. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB? IT'S THE PERSONAL NTACT, THE PERSONAL EXPERIENC. I LOVE MEETG PEOPLE OM ALL OVER THE WORLD... I REALLY LIKE GETTG TO KNOW EVERYONE AND FEELG LIKE I'M TRAVELG WH A GROUP OF IENDS. WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST? I HAVE SO MANY PLAC ON MY LIST, BUT I WOULD REALLY LOBE TO GO TO AI. I NSIR MYSELF AN “ADVENTURE GIRL” AND AI FEELS LIKE THE ULTIMATE ADVENTURE! EVERY CULTURE TRIP SMALL-GROUP ADVENTURE IS LED BY A LOL INSIR JT LIKE HANNA. SEE OUR CULTURE TRIPS KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

The lol gay scene has been growg recent years, and more and more LGBT tablishments have popped up. Lookg Star Nightclub, Gay Bar, Pub Gb The founrs of Lookg Star took to Facebook and asked Seoul’s gay muny what the ial LGBT club should be like. 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!

THE BT GAY BARS SEOUL

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.

The gay heart of Itaewon, nicknamed "Homo Hill", has seen an explosn of foreigner-iendly, upsle gay bars, a nvenient lotn. Queen UTOPIA VERIFIED MAR 2018Loted on Homo Hill between Trance and Always Homme, Utopia Map793-1290, email.

THE BEST SEOUL GAY CLUBS & BARSGAY CLUBS & BARS SEOUL

Large wdows look out over Homo Hill and a strip of gltery bubble chairs le the pat for good weather ont row seatg. 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).

GAY BARS SOUTH KOREA YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

But, Jongno is changg wh the tim and newer addns to the gay neighborhood tend to be larger, more open and more ternatnal outlook. In the eveng, the lan and alleys of this nsely packed, low-rise area, bee filled wh food tents, tipsy salarymen, and thoands of gay men gog to and om their favore havens.

But if you're alone, try some of the bars listed below where you'll be at ease wh a more ternatnal gay bar system and iendly, English-speakg staff to wele you. They n help you fd other gay bars, snas, gay cema, and jjimjilbang (cisg spac) the neighborhood. Korean, English and Che languag are spoken here, so, for foreign visors, 's a good place to get updated rmatn about gay culture Korea.

SEOUL GAY SNAS

The gentle and cute owner and his staff speak English well and are pleased to fill you on the gay scene. More Seoul Listgs:General Informatn | Massage and Spas | SnasKorea Gay & Lbian Rource Listgs by Cy:other ci and provc. QUNCI VILLAS, a gay-iendly, gay-managed tropil rort on the heavenly island of Lombak, jt next to Bali...

Origatg 1960s Japan, where  was known as “yaoi, ” BL typilly picts two men a homoerotic relatnship. Wily regnized as South Korea’s first openly gay K-pop artist, the sger and actor Go Tae-seob, who the stage name Holland, starred a BL drama last year and believ that the growg visibily of BL books, TV seri and movi is a posive step. Bdette, who also intifi as gay and is a longstandg BL fan, said the genre will shake up nservative views on genr and sexualy South Korea.

“Whether you are a heterosexual woman tryg to ject your sexual tonomy to the world, or you are a gay man who wants to see posive reprentatns of male-male romance, BL n be ed, ” he said. From Gay and lbian bars to gay-iendly bars, here's everythg LGBT people should know.The bt gay bars SeoulIf you're new to the LGBT muny and feelg a ltle shy, don't. Come vis some of Seoul's bt gay bars, dance clubs, and pubs Seoul to drk, dance and meet people.

A GAY GUI TO ITAEWON

Special thanks to Andy, Ran H, Charl, blukytoday, Vergel, peterbxl1, ptloup, MARCELERIC, JasonBrill, Davidphotos, jon_guy1, PJack, flake51, brizner, Sixsense, jtsurf12, cyrc_84, nakedoz, GorillaCJ, Peter75, HKFatBoy, bigdaddy, cyrc_84, asialover31, hellopa, nahodo, dny1234, kimchiseoul, billii, christoffel1, ernst, yemen, Bottom4u, molpjs, nfed, KokAsianBear, mantoman500, hanggout, h2008bj, snoopy9904, Bill18062000, bigozibear, RiceBear, ojo, Texas2Step, Denny, joshnkorea, andy1988, mb2086, gaysoulpas, steven_g, BeGentle100, Jihoon, Jason, Alan, John, Tak Bac, Gr, Uan, Jason, Blukytoday, Auri, Eli, Leo, Jimmy, Elijah, J. Jjimjilbang may not have a sna, or even hot water facili, although they may functn as facto cisg spac for Korean gays.

More Seoul Listgs:General Informatn | Bars, Cabarets, Diss, Karaoke | Massage and SpasSouth Korea Gay & Lbian Rource Listgs by Cy:other ci and provc.

GAY SOUTH KOREA TRAVEL GUI

Most of the remendatns will be around Itaewon as is well-known as the party’s hub Seoul, and the gay bars n be found there “Homo Hill” district.

Bottoms up is a gay bar that n be found the bar and has a panoramic wdow that provis a great view of ‘Homo Hill’, the bar is open Tuday through Saturday. Why Not is one of the olst bars this area which is lled the "Homo Hill" known for s iendly staff, nice ambience, and fun K-pop on the weekend.

Seoul Pri Go Ahead Dpe Risg Anti-LGBTQ RhetoricOrigal applitn for Cy Hall venue nied by thoriInfluential relig groups, policians fan anti-gay feelgThe Seoul Queer Culture Ftival at Seoul Plaza Getty Imag AsiaPacJune 30, 2023 at 6:00 PM EDTUpdated on July 1, 2023 at 6:01 AM EDTTens of thoands of people gathered on Saturday afternoon Seoul for the cy’s Pri para, followg months of wranglg wh officials who had rejected an applitn to hold the event at s ual spot ont of Cy annual celebratn, which began 23 years ago as a gatherg of a few dozen people, was expected to attract more than 100, 000 people to the pal’s Euljiro bs district. A clter of ronavis s nnected to clubs equented by South Korea’s gay muny has sparked an outpourg of hate speech towards the untry’s already-embattled LGBTQ populatn.

SEOUL’S 12 BT GAY BARS JONGNO

The suggtn that the outbreak is lked to the cy’s gay scene has sparked a huge backlash agast the LGBTQ muny, cludg the 29-year-old man believed to be at the center of the clter. Lol media has emphasized his sexual orientatn and reported that the clubs he vised are gay venu, although the venu do not openly scribe themselv as such on their official webs or social media acunts.

But as the news broke, several South Korean media anizatns reported that the bars the 29-year-old had vised were gay bars.

That is also a ncern of one 25-year-old Seoul, who intifi as gay and who asked to be anonymo out of fear of discrimatn, who says he was at two of the Itaewon clubs nnected wh the outbreak early May. “Gays are also feelg like there’s this double standards, where they are beg asked to be upstandg cizens and ‘get tted for your untry, ’ meanwhile the untry treats them like dirt. Homosexual sex is illegal the ary whether happens on or off base, and regardls of whether one party is not an enlisted soldier – somethg that is not the se for heterosexual sex.

SEOUL GAY DANCE CLUBS

SEOUL — Jonah Lee, a round-faced 63-year-old wh a swoop of grayg hair, once spent his days nng gay bars and drag clubs Korea and Japan the '70s and '80s. He claims, through a mistry he started the Korean pal 1994, to have unseled more than 1, 200 people seekg to “pe homosexualy.

”Lee’s story — om gay entertament pneer to the leadg spokperson for Korea’s ex-gay movement — was ma possible by the trajectory of many of South Korea’s Christian church, which have grown exponentially sce Lee first beme a Christian almost 40 years ago. For most of that time, homosexualy was basilly a non-issue even the most nservative of the church, and Lee said no one raised ncern about his bs for 11 years after he started attendg South Korea’s largt megachurch; he even started gog to theology class while drsed women’s clothg, acrdg to a former, many of Korea’s most important Christian lears have e to preach homosexualy as an existential threat.

Lee’s path to ex-gay lear is a story miature of how homosexualy rapidly went om an almost visible issue South Korea to one that is now brgg tens of thoands of shoutg protters to the streets. Almost all of the several thoand people attendance wore visors prted wh the motto “Oppose homosexual provotn. While Christian lears who spoke to BuzzFeed News mata Korean church have always subscribed to a doctre opposed to homosexualy, barely anyone ever preached agast bee there were virtually no out people Korea, let alone an anized an terview the small office buildg that ho his church at the edge of Seoul’s upsle Gangnam neighborhood, Lee said he beme a Christian bee he believed he was rponsible for the suici of his mother, a vout Buddhist, and need a way to fd the late ‘70s, Lee told his mother he uld not marry bee he was attracted to men.

She told him she had been able to nceive him only after 100 days of beechg Buddha for a son, and she now believed that his homosexualy was the price for havg her prayers answered. His mother believed she uld ee him om his homosexualy by cleansg herself of her ss, and the only way to do that was for her to kill herself. She thought was her rponsibily to rolve this problem — she wrote a will and mted suici, ” Lee still rried tremendo guilt for her suici, but he didn’t n om his homosexualy.

”Soon after her ath, he opened his first gay bar, lled Hot Love, which Lee claims was the first the Itaewon neighborhood that today has a thrivg gay strip. He began attendg Yoido Full Gospel Church even as his bs took off, and he ntued to n gay bars and drag clubs. “You’ve been selected by God, ” Lee said Cho told him durg an enunter Tokyo, where Lee had fled 1988, when Lee said police shut down gay bars Itaewon rponse to the spread of AIDS.

Then, 11 years to Lee’s life as a Christian, somethg was the first to tell Lee that he uld not be gay and bee a pastor. And he went one step further: He told him he wasn’t born gay and that Bible study uld cure him. “If you were ed born gay then somethg is wrong wh God — God created a male and a female, and he said that homosexualy is a s, ” Lee rells Hirano tellg him.

Lee remembers Hirano poted to him to Corthians 6:11, promisg he uld be “sanctified by the Holy Spir” if he voted himself to had lived the Uned Stat for 21 years, om 1968 to 1989, where he had heard many stori of “ex-gays.

There, Hirano had seen alholics and dg addicts saved by fah — and, he said, he knew “a lot of gay people [who] revered at Calvary Chapel. ”For two years, Lee studied wh Hirano and “reaed om leadg a gay liftyle, ” but then had sex wh an ex-boyiend spe his rolve.

Ricky Ryan, then-pastor of the Santa Barbary Calvary Chapel, cled through an employee of his current church to rpond to BuzzFeed News' requts for first Lee hid his gay past, and his church stggled. This was the first attempt to import LGBT rights laws primarily crafted Europe and the Ameris to Korea unr the banner of human rights, a ncept that was particularly sensive the untry bee s most popular polician, Ban Ki-moon, had jt bee secretary general of the Uned anti-LGBT activists where such laws had passed, they warned this would lead to censorship of church that preached agast homosexualy.