Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is known for, among other things, technological innovation, the world’s most efficient subway system, universities brimming with resourceful and creative minds, and, to some extent,…..its hatred against the LGBT community, a reminder of Korea’s gothic remnants.
Seoul’s mayor Park Won-soon is an LGBT ally, but in 2014 he caved to pressure from conservative Christians and decided to scrap his once plan to install a city-wide human rights charter that would protect LGBT folk.
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| (Left photo) Participants attend the opening ceremony of the Korea Queer Festival 2015 at Seoul Plaza in downtown Seoul on June 9, holding up cards that say “We become stronger as we connect.” Protesters, meanwhile, hold a rally opposing the event in front of Deoksugung Palace near the plaza earlier in the day. (Yonhap) |
Recently, Seoul ‘s police department refused to permit an LGBT parade in the city. Conservative pastors were elated. But the city’s administrative court declared the police decision unlawful, as no threat of imminent harm appeared to be presented by the parade. Moreover, the court noted that prejudice could not serve as a motivation to block the parade.