Tens of thousands of LGBTQ South Koreans and allies congregated in central Seoul on Saturday for annual Pride celebrations, despite officials banning the event’s traditional venue for the second consecutive year in a row.
Same-sex marriage is still illegal in Asia’s fourth-largest economy, and activists have long advocated for legislation that outlaws sexual orientation discrimination.
This year’s Pride Parade, which celebrates its 25th anniversary and is one of Asia’s largest, was denied permission to congregate in Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall, where the main festivities have traditionally been held.
Seoul’s conservative mayor, Oh Se-hoon, has stated that he ‘personally can’t agree with homosexuality’, but municipal officials cited the area had already been allocated for an outdoor event themed around books.
Instead, it took place in the streets in central Seoul, with enterprises and organizations such as the US embassy, IKEA, and Amnesty International showing their support.
Areas surrounding Seoul’s major thoroughfares Namdaemun-ro and Ujeongguk-ro were packed with delighted participants dressed in rainbow-themed costumes and make-up, some blowing bubbles, and many waving orange balloons, the theme color for this year’s edition.
In a statement, organizers stated, “The color range symbolizes an intermediary quality between red and yellow. It doesn’t belong anywhere but exists independently, … akin to our queer way of being”.
According to the Pride organizers, three other venues managed by the Seoul city government, including the Seoul Museum of History, were also barred from hosting side events owing to causing social conflict.
Evangelical Christian groups have frequently targeted LGBTQ celebrations, throwing water bottles, verbally abusing Pride marchers, and attempting to block their route by lying down in the street in the past.
Just a few hundred metres away from the festival’s main streets, Christian protesters raised signs saying ‘No!! Same-sex Marriage’ and ‘The country built with blood and sweat is collapsing due to homosexuality’.
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