Seoul Downtown Hosts First Queer Festival in 3 Years... Counter-Protest Continues on Opposite Side

'Live, Unite, Advance' Slogan Parade Starts at 4 PM
Christian Groups Hold Opposition Rally from Morning on the Same Day

On the afternoon of the 16th, the Queer Culture Festival is being held at Seoul Plaza for the first time in three years. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] The '23rd Seoul Queer Culture Festival,' a festival for sexual minorities, was held in downtown Seoul for the first time in three years.

At 11 a.m. on the 16th, the Seoul Queer Culture Festival Organizing Committee held a preliminary event near Seoul Plaza in Jung-gu, Seoul, under the slogan "Live, Unite, Move Forward," followed by the main event starting at 2 p.m.

The festival had been held online for the past two years due to the impact of COVID-19.

Yang Sunwoo, the chairperson of the Seoul Queer Culture Festival Organizing Committee, who organized the on-site festival after three years, expressed joy, saying, "Sexual minorities have been living more lonely and isolated lives since COVID-19," and "Today is a moment that people have been eagerly waiting for." He added, "Although citizens experience inconvenience for one day due to traffic control, sexual minorities live with discomfort and frustration for 364 days except for this day."

At Seoul Plaza, where the event was held, 72 booths were set up by organizations and groups advocating for solidarity with sexual minorities and raising awareness.

The number of participants on-site was estimated at 13,000. The festival planned to proceed with a welcoming stage and solidarity speeches at 2 p.m., followed by a parade marching through various parts of downtown Seoul at 4 p.m.

Participants will march a total of 3.8 km, starting from Seoul Plaza, passing through Euljiro Entrance, Jongno, and Myeongdong, and returning to Seoul Plaza. After the parade ends, celebratory performances will continue at Seoul Plaza until 7 p.m.

A counter-protest opposing the queer festival was also held from the morning of the same day.

Opposition rallies by Christian and conservative groups such as the Jesus Foundation, Shalom Mission, Hapdong Hanseong General Assembly, and Just People were held in front of Daehanmun Gate opposite Seoul Plaza and in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Council. They condemned Mayor Oh Se-hoon for permitting the festival at Seoul Plaza and continued their rally chanting slogans against the enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act.

Additionally, the Liberty Unification Party, led by Pastor Jeon Gwanghoon of Sarang Jeil Church, held an opposition rally at 1 p.m. in front of Donghwa Duty-Free Shop in Jongno-gu.

The police deployed 58 companies to prepare for any possible clashes between participants of both rallies. Defensive barriers were also installed around Seoul Plaza to prevent congestion in the area.

Meanwhile, on the occasion of Chobok (the first of the three hottest days of summer), animal protection groups opposing dog meat consumption held a rally at Yongsan Station Plaza in Seoul. They marched to the War Memorial and planned to deliver a letter to the Presidential Office.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.