Queer Festival Denied Use of Seoul Plaza... Opposition to "Pressure from Hate Groups"

Seoul City Decision... Christian Group Event Scheduled
Queer Festival Side "Will Find a Way... Will Definitely Hold"

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has denied the Seoul Queer Culture Festival Organizing Committee's (Queer Culture Festival) application to use Seoul Plaza. Since 2015, except during the COVID-19 period, the Queer Culture Festival has been held at Seoul Plaza every year, but due to this decision by the Seoul city government, it is expected that this year's event will face difficulties.

The scene of the Seoul Queer Parade held in 2019
[Photo by Yonhap News]

On the 3rd, the Seoul Queer Parade Organizing Committee (hereafter the Committee) announced via Twitter that "the Seoul Open Plaza Operation Citizens' Committee (hereafter the Committee) has denied the use of Seoul Plaza for the Seoul Queer Parade," adding that "on July 1, a 'Youth and Young Adult Recovery Concert' hosted by a Christian organization is scheduled to be held at Seoul Plaza."

The Committee further stated, "No lawful procedures according to the ordinance were carried out at all," and "the suspected involvement of the Seoul city government and pressure from hate groups, which were speculated due to various suspicious circumstances, have become a reality."

Earlier, on April 3, the Committee completed the notification for the use of Seoul Plaza to the Seoul city government in accordance with the ordinance. However, on the same day, a Christian organization also submitted a notification to use Seoul Plaza on July 1 for the 'Youth and Young Adult Recovery Concert.'

[Photo by Seoul Queer Parade Twitter]

A Seoul city official explained the decision to deny the Queer Parade's use of Seoul Plaza by stating, "The relevant ordinance allows youth-related events to take precedence over other events, so the Committee made this decision."

In fact, the Ordinance on the Use and Management of Seoul Plaza in Seoul Special City specifies that events related to children and youth can be approved with priority.

However, if the order of notification is the same, adjustments should be made through consultation with the applicants, and if no agreement is reached, the Committee's opinion should be heard to decide on the approval of the use notification.

Nevertheless, the Committee pointed out that "the Seoul City General Affairs Division notified that it would immediately submit the agenda to the Committee without any inter-unit coordination procedures," calling this a policy that violates the ordinance.

Additionally, the Committee viewed as problematic the fact that a member of the Seoul Metropolitan Council expressed to the media anticipation for the 'Youth and Young Adult Recovery Concert' scheduled for July 1, despite the adjustment procedures not having been conducted.

The Committee added, "Nevertheless, the Seoul Queer Parade on July 1 will definitely take place," and "We will do our best to find a way."

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