Organizers of Seoul's annual gay-pride parade say they will go ahead with this year's celebration despite the city municipality revoking its permission to do conduct such an event.
The June 7 parade had been approved by a Seoul district office responsible for city streets but the district-office spokesman said May 29 that it has since revoked that permission.
The reason given was that city officials judged the parade inappropriate in the aftermath of the recent ferry tragedy.
Many in South Korea are still in mourning for the 205 people who died and 97 missing in the April 16 ferry accident on the country’s southwest coast. Most who perished were students.
Since then many celebrations, sports, government and promotional events have been canceled since the April 16 ferry sinking, which took around 300 lives, most of them students. The parade organizers said they are discussing whether to pay tribute to the victims at the event.
But blogs.wsj.com reports that organizers think the reason is more likely one of homophobia than for reasons of mourning.
A spokesman for the parade’s organizing committee told Korea Real Time that the authorities appear to have bowed to pressure from some Christian groups that oppose gay pride parade and equality rights for the LGBT community, a claim that the district-office spokesman denied.
Some Christian groups in recent years have stepped up their protests against same-sex relations. In 2012 groups protested against a Lady Gaga concert in Seoul, saying that the Western pop icon spread pro-gay propaganda through her songs.
The Korean Queer Festival begun in 2000, held in the South Korean capital of Seoul, has grown into one of the largest LGBTI pride events in Asia with organizers expecting 20,000 to take part this year.
The theme for this year’s festival is ‘Love Conquers Hate,’ and following the June 7 opening parade will be a week-long calendar of exhibitions, performances, parties and an LGBTI film festival.
Parade organizers say they will host the event as planned in the capital’s Sinchon area, a popular hangout for young people because of the several universities there.
Earlier, a spokesperson for the Korea Queer Festival encouraged not just LGBTIs to attend but also members of the general public who wanted to better understand their issues.
General awareness of homosexuality has remained low among the Korean public and Korean gays and lesbians still face difficulties, and many prefer not to reveal their gay identity to their family, friends or co-workers.
The June 7 parade had been approved by a Seoul district office responsible for city streets but the district-office spokesman said May 29 that it has since revoked that permission.
The reason given was that city officials judged the parade inappropriate in the aftermath of the recent ferry tragedy.
Many in South Korea are still in mourning for the 205 people who died and 97 missing in the April 16 ferry accident on the country’s southwest coast. Most who perished were students.
Since then many celebrations, sports, government and promotional events have been canceled since the April 16 ferry sinking, which took around 300 lives, most of them students. The parade organizers said they are discussing whether to pay tribute to the victims at the event.
But blogs.wsj.com reports that organizers think the reason is more likely one of homophobia than for reasons of mourning.
A spokesman for the parade’s organizing committee told Korea Real Time that the authorities appear to have bowed to pressure from some Christian groups that oppose gay pride parade and equality rights for the LGBT community, a claim that the district-office spokesman denied.
Some Christian groups in recent years have stepped up their protests against same-sex relations. In 2012 groups protested against a Lady Gaga concert in Seoul, saying that the Western pop icon spread pro-gay propaganda through her songs.
The Korean Queer Festival begun in 2000, held in the South Korean capital of Seoul, has grown into one of the largest LGBTI pride events in Asia with organizers expecting 20,000 to take part this year.
The theme for this year’s festival is ‘Love Conquers Hate,’ and following the June 7 opening parade will be a week-long calendar of exhibitions, performances, parties and an LGBTI film festival.
Parade organizers say they will host the event as planned in the capital’s Sinchon area, a popular hangout for young people because of the several universities there.
Earlier, a spokesperson for the Korea Queer Festival encouraged not just LGBTIs to attend but also members of the general public who wanted to better understand their issues.
General awareness of homosexuality has remained low among the Korean public and Korean gays and lesbians still face difficulties, and many prefer not to reveal their gay identity to their family, friends or co-workers.
Printable Version
RSS Feed: 
Reader's Comments
SPOILER...Watch this MV song by Korean ballad SINGER K.Will.. Please Don't go. It needs more like this and us to push for gay love/acceptance.
......Watch before reading my next post about the Korean Music Video. Trust me watch first then read next post. The more that watch this helps the Koreans fight to be heard. Note... plot twist towards the end.
Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdUiCJnRptk
2 East Asian guys Gay love lasted 5 years.
One guy tells the other that he must get married to appease family pressure and work situation.
So one guy goes into a 'Straight' marriage. Other guy leaves country to find Gay love life.
'Straight' marriage guy has son. Names son after ex gay partner’s exact name! Memento!
'Straight 'marriage guy still has gay life whilst still married.
Gay guy moved to another country (Australia) found me and we have lived gay partnership for 10 plus years.
To understand more about the Korean situation and MV. I highly recommend a Korean gay film.
Two Weddings and a Funeral. 2012 Korean Movie
Warning: Like K.Wills MV. Do Not Read the movie synopsis. As it will spoil the twists in the movie.
Link: http://dramafire.com/two-weddings-and-a-funeral-2012/
(Synopsis) In Guk and Jae-Hyun were gay lovers in the MV. Why. Read the lyrics and then look at the MV again.
(Most scenes) are In Guk driving from Wedding remembering. Dasom was never in the car! She is representing the Korean pressure & emotions of society towards marriage that's creating the split.)
(Lyrics.) We sit next to each other in the car but there is no music. I always held your left hand.
ANSWER: Last time in car their situation has changed = No music playing. Jae Hyun’s hand was always held. (Only place gays can express their love ‘Holding Hands’ in public without being abused.) Dasom vision in Car/Apartment represents intrusion into those personal spaces)
(Lyrics.) But now you are bitting at your nails. I know what you’re going to say. Please don’t say it.
ANSWER: Jae-Hyun bitting = Korean family tradition/pressured/expectation to marry. But In Guk is pleading with Jae Hyun Please don’t do it. This is a common situation Korean Gays face.
(Lyrics.) I want to delay just one minute/one second, but this empty road keeps rushing me.
ANSWER: In Guk knows that he cannot stop the Korean peer pressures that will wedge them apart.
(Lyrics.) I arrive at you house that’s so familiar, but the tears start to fall.
ANSWER: they were lovers but now heartbreak.
(Lyrics.) After spending a long day trying to find this place. But now I feel lost. ANSWER: In Guk & Jae Hyun found love but it is being wedged apart by Korean Family tradition/expectation to marry.
(Lyrics.) It’s not even raining today. But you fade away behind the car window.
ANSWER: their split is not from In Guk and Jae-Hyun arguing but due to Korean peer expectation to marry.
(Lyrics.) Letting you go away. It’s not that easy. You turn around and walk away.
ANSWER: In Guk is the one stepping aside without arguing, Jae Hyun is walking away from the love. A doomed love/Forbidden Love in Korea.
(Lyrics.)Tears eventually drop and I need to wipe them away now.
ANSWER: In Guk is heartbroken and Jae Hyun knows because they were lovers.
(Lyrics.) I don’t know whether to use the Handkerchief you gave me or throw it away.
ANSWER: Jae- Hyun gave him the Handkerchief. Handkerchief = Jae Hyun knows the pain that’s being caused. Memento!
(Lyrics.)Why am i shivering?
ANSWER: In Guk is deep in love but helpless to the social demands.
(Lyrics.) Though I try to stop you from leaving. I’m standing here paralysed.
ANSWER: Korean Forbidden love is forcing In Guk to stand aside. In Guk can’t go against that tradition. Jae Hyun must have participated in the gay love.
(Lyrics.) Want to keep dreaming in your scent left in the car. And I don’t want to wake up from the dream.
ANSWER: the words Dream = Gay romance. Scent = Jae Hyun’s Love.
(Lyrics.) On top of the empty seat you left only your cold scent remains.
ANSWER: Its Jae-Hyun not Dason that he feels/reaches for in the car. Scent left in car is referring to Jae Hyun’s lover of In Guk.
(Lyrics.) I will hold onto the remaining scent. So come back to where you belong.
ANSWER: Jae-Hyun is gay. As In Guk tears the picture he is saying that he will wait for him to come back where he belongs. Belong = Gay lovers.
(Last scene) shot shows Jae Hyun in car with his arm stretched over to In Guk’s hand. They still loved.
Key clues in MV that show their love.
The stealth gaze they give each other at the Wedding as they slink past each other.
The look and gestures Jae-Hyun gives In Guk before and after he pulls him for the photo.
Jae Hyun looks down at his hand hold Dasom’s but his look is empty!
The steely gaze that Jae-Hyun and then Guk look into each other’s eyes just prior to the photo being taken. Guk senses that Jae-Hyun still loves him.
In Guk rubs Jae Hyun face on the picture not Dasom’s.
Last scene shot shows Jae Hyun in car with his arm stretched over to In Guk.
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/06/05/2014060501323.html
Man on High Heels
Please log in to use this feature.