Though many Koreans may swear that there are no gay people in Korea, there is a sizable gay and lesbian community in Korea. Any Korean who worked for an NGO will tell you that many of his co-workers were gay or lesbians. There are increasing references to homosexuality in Korean movies.
One such movie is "The Unforgiven" (2005). Many Koreans have seen that movie, but most will disagree when you tell them the main character was homosexual. Although most foreigners who saw the movie will argue that character Yu Tae Jung (played by Jung Woo Ha) was clearly in love with male character Dae-Suk (played by Han Sung-Chun) and was clearly devastated when he found out that Dae-Suk had a girlfriend, most Koreans pretend not to have noticed that.
Being gay and Korean
There is no insult or swear word in Korean related to the gay community. This is simply because most are not aware that there is a gay community in Korea.
In fact, most gay and lesbian people in Korea find it easier to date than straight people. While straight people can't bring people of the opposite sex to their parent's homes, gay people can bring their male boyfriends to their homes for a sleep over.
Since most Korean are not aware there are gay people in Korea, few parents doubt that their children may be homosexual. In fact, to my surprise, many Koreans don't know the Korean word for "homosexual" -"dongaesong"- and simply use the English loanword "gay". A friend of mine argued that there was no Korean word for "homosexual" because there are "no Korean homosexuals".
Places where LGBT people hang out
It is said that there are about 100 gay bars, one gay night club and a few gay karaokes concentrated in the Seoul area. Most of them are in Itaewon, Jogno and Sinchon. Most gay bars and clubs are safe and crime-free.
Most people going to such bars and clubs are from the expat community. Though many Koreans do go, some Koreans from the LGBT community are not even aware that such places exist. Others may avoid going to such bars because of the language and cultural barriers.
Social stigma and Gay marriage
Technically, Korean law does not specify that marriage in Korea should be between a man and a woman. It simply mentions that marriage is a union between "two people". However, no official gay marriage has been celebrated in Korea.
An increasing number of gay and lesbian people are celebrating marriages in private ceremonies. The first same-sex marriage to have been publicly celebrated was in 2004.
Most gay and lesbian Koreans do not tell their entourage about their sexual preferences. Korean parents and employers thus push them to get married and expect them to marry at some point. Many, out of filial piety and fear of losing their job, do get married.
Since major Korean companies tend to strongly encourage their employers to get married as soon as possible, many LGBT Koreans prefer working for NGOs or associations where corporate rules often do not apply as strictly.
LGBT community and the media in Korea
What may be striking is that even though the Korean media has started acknowledging the presence of a gay community in Korea, it does not portray gay and lesbian people as normal people. Though most Korean universities have gay associations, there is no news coverage about gay community activities.
In 2004, the "Hahahoho show" started airing on Korean television. The concept was simple: 9 gay men and 9 transsexuals dancing and doing all sorts of activities on stage. Many criticized the show because it focused more on showing the dance and partying side of the LGBT community than on asking them how they were able to cope with social stigma.
Gay community and AIDS in Korea
The Korean media seldom mentions the gay community as such. While most westerners believe that the AIDS pandemic reached its climax in gay circles in Los Angeles, most Koreans simply view AIDS as a foreign disease, even though 3,000 Koreans are believed to have the virus(1). Actually, the first time I ever heard the Korean media mention there was a gay community was when they gave AIDS statistics. It is believed that 49% of those tested for AIDS are homosexual(2).
The future of the LGBT community in Korea
After actor and comedian Hong Suk Cheon came out, he lots his job. A poll showed that 59% Koreans were opposed to this decision and thought that the company should retake him.
The Korean corporate world wants workers to depend on the company as much as possible. Most major companies want to make sure that their workers could not survive if they quit their jobs. They therefore push workers to get married and have children so that they fully depend on the company. People from the LGBT community may not fit in to this scheme.
Most Korean politicians consider there should be no debate regarding gay rights, as they consider there should be no debate regarding any minority rights. As there are no sizable organized minorities in Korea other than the gay community, and such minorities have not started claiming their rights. But with sizable immigrant communities and an increasingly visible LGBT community, gay rights should soon enter the Korean public debate.
Footnotes
(1) 455 more test positive for HIV/AIDS, Korea Herald, 10/25/04
(2) Ib. Id.
Raphael Sheen - I like writing about education, cultural, self-help, travel, social and political issues. Don't ask me where I'm from, there's no ...
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