Gay culture meets sculpture to expand prence Korea's art scene - The Korea Tim

Contents:

• IN THE MP WORLD OF K-POP, ’S HARD FOR STARS TO BE GAY
• GAY SOUTH KOREA: 'SHE SAID I DON'T NEED A SON LIKE YOU'
• GAY SOUTH KOREA TRAVEL GUI
• HOW GAY-FRIENDLY IS SOUTH KOREA?WH THE WTER OLYMPICS AROUND THE RNER, THE GLOBAL SPOTLIGHT IS ON {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}LIFEBY SAM MANZELLAFEBARY 5, 2018/12:03 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:3414PX;WIDTH:5120PX;}CHUNG SUNG-JUN/GETTY IMAGSEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - JULY 15: PEOPLE ENJOY THE KOREA QUEER CULTURE FTIVAL 2017 ONT OF CY HALL ON JULY 15, 2017 SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA. THE ANNUAL FTIVAL PROMOTG THE LGBT RIGHTS HAD OCSNALLY BEEN DISPTED BY ANTI-LGBT GROUPS THE PAST, THOUGH HOMOSEXUALY IS NOT ILLEGAL THE UNTRY. (PHOTO BY CHUNG SUNG-JUN/GETTY IMAG)BY SAM MANZELLAFEBARY 5, 2018 / 12:03 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"HOW GAY-FRIENDLY IS SOUTH KOREA?","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2018-02-05T17:03:39.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2018-02-05T17:03:39.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"SAM MANZELLA","KEYWORDS":"TERNATNAL, SPORTS","ARTICLESECTN":"LIFE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN JT A FEW DAYS, HUNDREDS OF ATHLET WILL SCEND ON PYEONGCHANG, SOUTH KOREA, FOR THE 2018 WTER OLYMPICS, CLUDG A NUMBER OF GAY AND LBIAN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT WHAT'S THE STATE OF LGBT EQUALY SOUTH KOREA?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HISTORILLY, THE UNTRY'S NSERVATIVE ERNMENT AND LARGE CHRISTIAN POPULATN HAS MEANT SLOW PROGRS: IN 2013, A PEW REARCH POLL DITED ALMOST 60% OF KOREANS BELIEVED SOCIETY SHOULDN'T ACCEPT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE HAVE NEVER BEEN LAWS AGAST SAME-SEX ACTIVY KOREA, AND THE AG OF NSENT ARE EQUAL FOR HETEROSEXUAL AND HOMOSEXUAL SEX. BUT BEG GAY IS STILL CULTURALLY TABOO: A MAJORY OF QUEER PEOPLE ARE STILL CLOSETED, AND THOSE WHO E OUT ARE OFTEN ENURAGED TO UNRGO NVERSN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"MOST KOREANS STILL KEEP THEIR SEXUALY PRIVATE," NOT SABRA CONSTANCE HILL, A CANADIAN TRANS WOMAN WHO'S LIVED SOUTH KOREA FOR NEARLY 13 YEARS. "WHILE MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WILL E OUT TO IENDS, A LOT STILL HI OM THEIR FAY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LIKE THE RT OF ASIA, SOUTH KOREA LACKS MARRIAGE EQUALY, AND SAME-SEX UNNS AREN'T REGNIZED BY THE ERNMENT, EHER. SAVE FOR A FEW MUNICIPALI, THERE ARE NO LEGAL PROTECTNS AGAST DISCRIMATN. LGBT KOREANS N'T ADOPT CHILDREN OR OPENLY SERVE THE ARY. (LAST YEAR, A SOLDIER WAS SENTENCED TO SIX MONTHS JAIL FOR HAVG NSENSUAL SEX WH ANOTHER SOLDIER.){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CENSORSHIP IS NOT UNMON, AND THE ERNMENT HAS BEEN KNOWN TO BLOCK GAY DATG APPS OM APP STOR KOREA. AND CHRISTIAN GROUPS LIKE SEOUL'S ANTI-HOMOSEXUALY CHRISTIAN SOLIDARY FUEL MPAIGNS TOUTG MARRIAGE AS STRICTLY BETWEEN ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN.CHUNG SUNG-JUN/GETTY IMAGSEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - JULY 15: ANTI SAME-SEX MARRIAGE ACTIVISTS ATTEND THE RALLY NEXT TO THE KOREA QUEER CULTURE FTIVAL 2017 ONT OF CY HALL ON JULY 15, 2017 SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA. THE ANNUAL FTIVAL PROMOTG THE LGBT RIGHTS HAD OCSNALLY BEEN DISPTED BY ANTI-LGBT GROUPS THE PAST, THOUGH HOMOSEXUALY IS NOT ILLEGAL THE UNTRY. (PHOTO BY CHUNG SUNG-JUN/GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"AS THE SOCIAL MOVEMENT FOR THE LGBT MUNY BE MORE VISIBLE, THE MOVEMENT OF DISGTG FORC IS ALSO BEG MORE TENSE," SAYS CANDY YUN OF THE KOREAN SEXUAL MORY CULTURE AND RIGHTS CENTER. "THE HATE GROUPS KOREA ARE TRYG TO OVERTHROW OUR RIGHTS AND SPEWG THE SAME TIRED PROPAGANDA THAT HOMOSEXUALY IS THE E OF AIDS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE EXPERIENCE FOR THE TRANSGENR MUNY ISN'T MUCH BETTER: WH A FEW EXCEPTNS, TRANS KOREANS N ONLY CHANGE THEIR LEGAL GENR MARKERS AFTER THEY'VE UNRGONE SURGIL TRANSN AND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT ATTUS ARE CHANGG QUICKLY. ESPECIALLY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE THE REPUBLIC, 60% OF WHOM SUPPORT MARRIAGE EQUALY. "WHILE KOREA IS STILL EPLY NSERVATIVE, THERE IS A TREND TOWARD EQUALY AND OPENNS," SAYS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN A TELEVISED BATE LAST YEAR, PRINT MOON JAE- SAID HE OPPOSED HOMOSEXUALY. BUT SUPPORTERS SAY HE WAS ONLY SAVG FACE ONT OF NSERVATIV. FOUR MONTHS LATER, AN LGBT RIGHTS GROUP WON A LANDMARK SU ALLOWG TO LEGALLY REGISTER AS A CHARY. (THE SEOUL METROPOLAN GOVERNMENT, THE MISTRY OF JTICE AND THE NATNAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSN HAD ALL TRIED TO BLOCK .)ED JONES/AFP/GETTY IMAGPARTICIPANT 'SEEA' POS FOR A PHOTO DURG A 'GAY PRI' GATHERG SEOUL ON JULY 15, 2017.THOANDS OF PEOPLE CELEBRATED GAY RIGHTS WH SONG, DANCE AND A MARCH SEOUL ON JULY 15, AMID RA AND BOISTERO PROTTS BY NSERVATIVE CHRISTIANS. RELIG SOUTH KOREANS HAVE BEEN A LOUD FIXTURE AT THE ANNUAL PARA FOR YEARS, HOLDG A RIVAL ANTI-HOMOSEXUALY RALLY WHILE TRYG TO PHYSILLY BLOCK THE MARCH. / AFP PHOTO / ED JONES (PHOTO CRED SHOULD READ ED JONES/AFP/GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN 2015, ANIZERS OF KOREA'S ANNUAL PRI EVENT, THE QUEER CULTURE FTIVAL, HAD TO GO TO URT TO OVERTURN A POLICE BAN. IN 2017, THE EVENT SAW A RERD-BREAKG TURNOUT WH 85,000 {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"EVERY YEAR, [THE FTIVAL] GROWS," HILL SAYS. "TEN YEARS AGO, WAS ATTEND MOSTLY BY THOSE THE LGBT MUNY. BUT NOW MORE ALLI SEEM TO BE SHOWG UP."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CERTA NEIGHBORHOODS SEOUL, LIKE ITAEWON AND HONGDAE, HAVE GAY AND LGBT-IENDLY CLUBS, AND HILL SAYS SHE GENERALLY FEELS SAFE. "IN MY TIME HERE, SOME OF MY BIGGT ALLI HAVE BEEN KOREANS. KOREANS ARE GENERALLY KD PEOPLE... ONCE YOU ARE THEIR GOOD GRAC, THEY HAVE YOUR BACK."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MEDIA REPRENTATNS HAVE EXPAND, AS WELL: FILMMAKER KIM JHO GWANG-SOO AND ACTOR-POLICIAN HONG SEOK-CHEON ARE BOTH OUT CELEBRI. HARISU IS A WELL-KNOWN TRANS POP SGER AND ACTRS. EARLIER THIS MONTH, OPENLY GAY K-POP STAR HOLLAND RELEASED "NEVERLAND," HIS BUT MIC {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE CLIP, WHICH FEATUR A SAME-SEX ROMANCE AND KISS, HAS GARNERED MORE THAN 4 LN VIEWS ON {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
• GAY LIFE SOUTH KOREA
• GAY LIFE NORTH KOREA
• GAY DICTNARY KOREAN

IN THE MP WORLD OF K-POP, ’S HARD FOR STARS TO BE GAY

“On the one hand looks like the dtry is very open md to shippg culture, ” she told CNN, referrg to the culture among fans of imagg relatnships between their favore stars – cludg gay relatnships. Acrdg to Kwon, fans were spired by “yaoi” – a kd of Japane manga that featur gay relatnships between male upl – and began makg up stori about their favore stars. Even now, K-pop labels sometim cultivate idols’ homoerotic appeal the hop that mak them more popular fanfictn, where Kwon timat 80% of stori volve gay story l.

GAY SOUTH KOREA: 'SHE SAID I DON'T NEED A SON LIKE YOU'

After Hong me out publicly as gay 2000, he was fired om his hostg job and lost other work – and thor Kwon believ that harsh rponse has disuraged others om followg su.

In the absence of nfirmatn, mentators have ed small, clive clu to speculate on their stance, for example, the time the band’s lear RM tweeted Macklemore’s song “Same Love, ” which promot equal rights for gay people. When the BBC posted a vio about the make-up route of a 16-year-old YouTuber Seoul on Facebook, the reactns ranged om trigued to downright assumed this meant he was gay, while others admonished him for his choice sayg "real men don't wear make-up". He says he's been lled gay by some Koreans onle for as long as he's been dog make-up ptn, A YouTube vlogger talks about why he wears make-upWhen asked about whether he thought he looked feme after he put on make-up, he was nfed by the qutn as if he had never even thought about .

Image source, Getty ImagImage ptn, Christian anti-LGBT protters are makg their prence felt at gay events like here SeoulHe proudly showed me his T-shirt wh a special rabow logo on , one that lls for an anti-discrimatn law. Homosexualy may not be illegal South Korea - sce 2003 is no longer classified as "harmful and obscene" - but discrimatn remas wispread. Jt unr half of South Koreans don't want a gay iend, neighbour or lleague, acrdg to one natnwi survey by The Korea Social Integratn ptn, Why holidays n be tough for S Korea's LGBT munyThe proportn of gay and lbian teenagers who have been exposed to vlence is also high.

GAY SOUTH KOREA TRAVEL GUI

He was alone a park late at night when he was approached by a man who told him homosexualy was an unfiveable s and he should return home to his parents, before beatg him wh a bamboo stick. The Prottant Christian Communy is so ncerned that homosexualy will be accepted South Korea that has cid to hold s first "real love" event Ban - jt a month after the Queer Ftival anisers were forced to ncel their own event the cy.

In a statement to the BBC, they said LGBTQ people were "uhil and abnormal" so their discrimatn was "the right kd of discrimatn" ptn, Menorah said she felt a rponsibily to stop LGBTQ people "om gog to hell"In September, this fluential church group turned up at the Queer Ftival Incheon, South Korea's send biggt cy, their waved paper fans which said NO to homosexualy and YES to "real love". A huge screen was placed near the Queer Ftival square blastg a warng vio claimg that enuragg homosexualy would spread Aids and st tax payers lns. Meanwhile, Japan has elected s first openly gay lawmaker, and spe the current polil opposn, a survey found that 78% of people aged 20 to 60 favoured legalizg same-sex marriage.

HOW GAY-FRIENDLY IS SOUTH KOREA?WH THE WTER OLYMPICS AROUND THE RNER, THE GLOBAL SPOTLIGHT IS ON {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}LIFEBY SAM MANZELLAFEBARY 5, 2018/12:03 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:3414PX;WIDTH:5120PX;}CHUNG SUNG-JUN/GETTY IMAGSEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - JULY 15: PEOPLE ENJOY THE KOREA QUEER CULTURE FTIVAL 2017 ONT OF CY HALL ON JULY 15, 2017 SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA. THE ANNUAL FTIVAL PROMOTG THE LGBT RIGHTS HAD OCSNALLY BEEN DISPTED BY ANTI-LGBT GROUPS THE PAST, THOUGH HOMOSEXUALY IS NOT ILLEGAL THE UNTRY. (PHOTO BY CHUNG SUNG-JUN/GETTY IMAG)BY SAM MANZELLAFEBARY 5, 2018 / 12:03 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"HOW GAY-FRIENDLY IS SOUTH KOREA?","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2018-02-05T17:03:39.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2018-02-05T17:03:39.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"SAM MANZELLA","KEYWORDS":"TERNATNAL, SPORTS","ARTICLESECTN":"LIFE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN JT A FEW DAYS, HUNDREDS OF ATHLET WILL SCEND ON PYEONGCHANG, SOUTH KOREA, FOR THE 2018 WTER OLYMPICS, CLUDG A NUMBER OF GAY AND LBIAN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT WHAT'S THE STATE OF LGBT EQUALY SOUTH KOREA?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HISTORILLY, THE UNTRY'S NSERVATIVE ERNMENT AND LARGE CHRISTIAN POPULATN HAS MEANT SLOW PROGRS: IN 2013, A PEW REARCH POLL DITED ALMOST 60% OF KOREANS BELIEVED SOCIETY SHOULDN'T ACCEPT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE HAVE NEVER BEEN LAWS AGAST SAME-SEX ACTIVY KOREA, AND THE AG OF NSENT ARE EQUAL FOR HETEROSEXUAL AND HOMOSEXUAL SEX. BUT BEG GAY IS STILL CULTURALLY TABOO: A MAJORY OF QUEER PEOPLE ARE STILL CLOSETED, AND THOSE WHO E OUT ARE OFTEN ENURAGED TO UNRGO NVERSN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"MOST KOREANS STILL KEEP THEIR SEXUALY PRIVATE," NOT SABRA CONSTANCE HILL, A CANADIAN TRANS WOMAN WHO'S LIVED SOUTH KOREA FOR NEARLY 13 YEARS. "WHILE MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WILL E OUT TO IENDS, A LOT STILL HI OM THEIR FAY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LIKE THE RT OF ASIA, SOUTH KOREA LACKS MARRIAGE EQUALY, AND SAME-SEX UNNS AREN'T REGNIZED BY THE ERNMENT, EHER. SAVE FOR A FEW MUNICIPALI, THERE ARE NO LEGAL PROTECTNS AGAST DISCRIMATN. LGBT KOREANS N'T ADOPT CHILDREN OR OPENLY SERVE THE ARY. (LAST YEAR, A SOLDIER WAS SENTENCED TO SIX MONTHS JAIL FOR HAVG NSENSUAL SEX WH ANOTHER SOLDIER.){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CENSORSHIP IS NOT UNMON, AND THE ERNMENT HAS BEEN KNOWN TO BLOCK GAY DATG APPS OM APP STOR KOREA. AND CHRISTIAN GROUPS LIKE SEOUL'S ANTI-HOMOSEXUALY CHRISTIAN SOLIDARY FUEL MPAIGNS TOUTG MARRIAGE AS STRICTLY BETWEEN ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN.CHUNG SUNG-JUN/GETTY IMAGSEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - JULY 15: ANTI SAME-SEX MARRIAGE ACTIVISTS ATTEND THE RALLY NEXT TO THE KOREA QUEER CULTURE FTIVAL 2017 ONT OF CY HALL ON JULY 15, 2017 SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA. THE ANNUAL FTIVAL PROMOTG THE LGBT RIGHTS HAD OCSNALLY BEEN DISPTED BY ANTI-LGBT GROUPS THE PAST, THOUGH HOMOSEXUALY IS NOT ILLEGAL THE UNTRY. (PHOTO BY CHUNG SUNG-JUN/GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"AS THE SOCIAL MOVEMENT FOR THE LGBT MUNY BE MORE VISIBLE, THE MOVEMENT OF DISGTG FORC IS ALSO BEG MORE TENSE," SAYS CANDY YUN OF THE KOREAN SEXUAL MORY CULTURE AND RIGHTS CENTER. "THE HATE GROUPS KOREA ARE TRYG TO OVERTHROW OUR RIGHTS AND SPEWG THE SAME TIRED PROPAGANDA THAT HOMOSEXUALY IS THE E OF AIDS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE EXPERIENCE FOR THE TRANSGENR MUNY ISN'T MUCH BETTER: WH A FEW EXCEPTNS, TRANS KOREANS N ONLY CHANGE THEIR LEGAL GENR MARKERS AFTER THEY'VE UNRGONE SURGIL TRANSN AND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT ATTUS ARE CHANGG QUICKLY. ESPECIALLY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE THE REPUBLIC, 60% OF WHOM SUPPORT MARRIAGE EQUALY. "WHILE KOREA IS STILL EPLY NSERVATIVE, THERE IS A TREND TOWARD EQUALY AND OPENNS," SAYS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN A TELEVISED BATE LAST YEAR, PRINT MOON JAE- SAID HE OPPOSED HOMOSEXUALY. BUT SUPPORTERS SAY HE WAS ONLY SAVG FACE ONT OF NSERVATIV. FOUR MONTHS LATER, AN LGBT RIGHTS GROUP WON A LANDMARK SU ALLOWG TO LEGALLY REGISTER AS A CHARY. (THE SEOUL METROPOLAN GOVERNMENT, THE MISTRY OF JTICE AND THE NATNAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSN HAD ALL TRIED TO BLOCK .)ED JONES/AFP/GETTY IMAGPARTICIPANT 'SEEA' POS FOR A PHOTO DURG A 'GAY PRI' GATHERG SEOUL ON JULY 15, 2017.THOANDS OF PEOPLE CELEBRATED GAY RIGHTS WH SONG, DANCE AND A MARCH SEOUL ON JULY 15, AMID RA AND BOISTERO PROTTS BY NSERVATIVE CHRISTIANS. RELIG SOUTH KOREANS HAVE BEEN A LOUD FIXTURE AT THE ANNUAL PARA FOR YEARS, HOLDG A RIVAL ANTI-HOMOSEXUALY RALLY WHILE TRYG TO PHYSILLY BLOCK THE MARCH. / AFP PHOTO / ED JONES (PHOTO CRED SHOULD READ ED JONES/AFP/GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN 2015, ANIZERS OF KOREA'S ANNUAL PRI EVENT, THE QUEER CULTURE FTIVAL, HAD TO GO TO URT TO OVERTURN A POLICE BAN. IN 2017, THE EVENT SAW A RERD-BREAKG TURNOUT WH 85,000 {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"EVERY YEAR, [THE FTIVAL] GROWS," HILL SAYS. "TEN YEARS AGO, WAS ATTEND MOSTLY BY THOSE THE LGBT MUNY. BUT NOW MORE ALLI SEEM TO BE SHOWG UP."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CERTA NEIGHBORHOODS SEOUL, LIKE ITAEWON AND HONGDAE, HAVE GAY AND LGBT-IENDLY CLUBS, AND HILL SAYS SHE GENERALLY FEELS SAFE. "IN MY TIME HERE, SOME OF MY BIGGT ALLI HAVE BEEN KOREANS. KOREANS ARE GENERALLY KD PEOPLE... ONCE YOU ARE THEIR GOOD GRAC, THEY HAVE YOUR BACK."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MEDIA REPRENTATNS HAVE EXPAND, AS WELL: FILMMAKER KIM JHO GWANG-SOO AND ACTOR-POLICIAN HONG SEOK-CHEON ARE BOTH OUT CELEBRI. HARISU IS A WELL-KNOWN TRANS POP SGER AND ACTRS. EARLIER THIS MONTH, OPENLY GAY K-POP STAR HOLLAND RELEASED "NEVERLAND," HIS BUT MIC {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE CLIP, WHICH FEATUR A SAME-SEX ROMANCE AND KISS, HAS GARNERED MORE THAN 4 LN VIEWS ON {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

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. In jt a few days, hundreds of athlet will scend on Pyeongchang, South Korea, for the 2018 Wter Olympics, cludg a number of gay and lbian what's the state of LGBT equaly South Korea?

GAY LIFE SOUTH KOREA

Historilly, the untry's nservative ernment and large Christian populatn has meant slow progrs: In 2013, a Pew Rearch poll dited almost 60% of Koreans believed society shouldn't accept have never been laws agast same-sex activy Korea, and the ag of nsent are equal for heterosexual and homosexual sex. But beg gay is still culturally taboo: A majory of queer people are still closeted, and those who e out are often enuraged to unrgo nversn therapy.

And Christian groups like Seoul's Anti-Homosexualy Christian Solidary fuel mpaigns toutg marriage as strictly between one man and one woman. "While Korea is still eply nservative, there is a trend toward equaly and openns, " says a televised bate last year, Print Moon Jae- said he opposed homosexualy.

GAY LIFE NORTH KOREA

Earlier this month, openly gay K-Pop star Holland released "Neverland, " his but mic clip, which featur a same-sex romance and kiss, has garnered more than 4 ln views on YouTube.

GAY DICTNARY KOREAN

Along wh the chang merce have e alteratns human behavr and attus, cludg a recent softeng toward homosexualy by means of high tech munitn and age-old drama. 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. Except for one major difference: his tentn of studyg the USA is equally, if not more, motivated by his need to breathe valy to his emotnal life as a gay man.