LGBTQ

I have some links to things I thought I'd share.

If you've ever looked into LGBT issues in South Korea, you will most likely be familiar with the name 홍석천 (romanized as Hong Suk Chun, Hong Seok Cheon, etc.) He's the most prominent openly gay person.
Harisu is the most prominent transgender celebrity. Also, Choi Han-bit (최한빛) is a transgender actress.

If you're familiar with K-Pop you may have noticed all the skinship between people of the same sex, not to mention the widespread fan service that often includes boys kissing boys, crossdressing, and homoerotic or suggestive acts, which usually take place in parody videos, on variety shows, or at concerts (there are a ton of examples, but here's a photo or two to give you an idea). Not to mention all those dramas where a girl disguises herself as a boy, and then a guy finds himself falling for him (her). I think The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince (aka Coffee Prince) may be the most popular one?
However, in reality being gay is most often unacceptable and misunderstood. Homophobia is widespread. Confucianism and Christianity don't help the situation for sexual minorities.

From what I've gathered, there is "hide" as opposed to pride. People keep quiet about their sexual orientation. Also, being a lesbian female is worse than being a gay male (in the views of society). Either way, most gay Koreans don't come out to their families and they eventually marry someone because it's expected of them. Being openly gay can be dangerous and would result in discrimination and a lot of shame for their family. In the past, people who came out to the public have received death threats.

Breaking the Gay Taboo in South Korea
http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=7351116&page=1#.UNvhc4njn6l
by Joohee Cho
Seoul, May 27, 2009

South Korean actor throws open closet door
http://articles.latimes.com/2012/mar/05/world/la-fg-south-korea-gay-activist-20120306
by John M. Glionna, Los Angeles Times
March 5, 2012

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Being Queer in Korea
http://chincha.co.uk/2012/06/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-being-queer-in-korea/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=10-things-you-didnt-know-about-being-queer-in-korea
by Chincha
June 1, 2012

[VOICE] Can Korea ever accept homosexuals?
http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20120618000725&cpv=0
by John Power
Published: June 18, 2012
Updated: June 20, 2012


This was written in 2003:
Life and Death in Queer Korea by Huso Yi
Part 1: A Queer Exorcism
http://www.thegully.com/essays/asia/030306_lgbt_korea_huso_yi.html
Part 2: Homo Koreanus
http://www.thegully.com/essays/asia/030320_homo_koreanus.html
Part 3: Civil Rights and Wrongs
http://www.thegully.com/essays/asia/030606_korea_gay_rights.html
Part 4: Gender Traitors
http://www.thegully.com/essays/asia/031030_korea_gender_lgbt.html



On YouTube:
Gay in Korea - Foreign Male Perspective
Gay in Korea - Foreign Female Perspective


The Korea Queer Culture Festival
http://discoveringkorea.com/090619/the-korea-queer-culture-festival/

Queer young South Koreans getting on the march
http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/535814.html


Here are some blogs:
The Kimchi Queen
Queer Korea

Anyway, I'll leave you with this http://youtu.be/PdUiCJnRptk ^^
(서인국 ♥ ♥ ㅋㅋ)