February 21, 2023
Trigger Warning: This post mentions cases of suicide and harassment.
The Fight for Visibility in People's Every Day Lives
Lesvos, June, and Hee-soo
Lesvos is a non-binary individual living in Seoul, South Korea. They never felt safe even with their own home. Lesvos did not have a supportive mother growing up. Their mother insisted that they were “guilty or had just committed a crime”(Mitsanas, 1). At the early age of 14, Lesvos considered running away from home numerous times. Never finding a place they felt they belonged, they stumbled upon one of the first queer friendly bars in South Korea in 1996. After experiencing a safe space to socialize where they would be accepted, they founded the first lesbian bar in Itaewon. Now, Lesvos works as a chef at a traditional Korean restaurant in downtown Seoul, and at night, they run a successful bar, Lesvos bar, that is a “place for all LGBTQ Koreans, not just lesbians”(Mitsanas, 1). Lesvos proudly states, “"I will do whatever it takes for South Korea's LGBTQ community until I take my last breath”(Mitsanas, 1). Lesvos commitment to advocacy and protecting their queer community inspires many youth today “to survive”(Mitsanas, 1). The article also interviews queer youth who visit Lesvos Bar and asks them to describe their experiences growing up queer. June Green explains how he has to “make a deeper voice whenever [he] leaves [his] house, and even then, people still approach me to ask if [he is] a guy or girl”(Mitsanas, 1). Places such as Lesvos bar persist in being a safe haven.
Another article tells the story of Sergeant Byun Hee-soo, a transgender woman, who fought valiantly for her country. Once her transgender identity was discovered, she was asked to leave the army under the “disabled” category. In reality, Hee-soo was a soldier like any other who represented her country. In an interview, Hee-soo claims, "I want to show everyone that I can also be one of the great soldiers who protect this country"(Rashid, 1). A year after being asked to leave, she committed suicide. LGBTQ+ activists and civil rights leaders called her case a "social murder' '. The use of “social murders” is justified because Byun was murdered by society's standards and the discrimination they inflicted on her. Her death proves that being transgender in South Korea is being political. And being a transgender person immediately comes with dire consequences.
Progress Battles Politics, the Military, and Religion
The National Law offers no protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender in South Korea. Students who identify as queer still face discrimination and same sex couples cannot legally adopt children. If same-sex relationships are discovered within the military, the punishment is 2 years in prison. The Military Criminal Act “penalizes ‘indecent acts’”(Mitsanas, 1) which ostracizes and isolates queer folks. The word “criminal” immediately reinforces the divide between who is deemed “normal” and accepted, and “others” queer people. In 2007, ex-president Roh Moo-hyn and his administration drafted “South Korea’s first comprehensive nondiscrimination bill, but conservative groups like the Congressional Missionary Coalition immediately objected to its inclusion of ‘sexual orientation.’”(Mitsanas, 1). Many politicians believed that validating the existence of queer individuals in society would unleash chaos. One of the president’s top advisors believed that “homosexuals will try to seduce everyone” if a bill such as the “nondiscrimination bill” was passed. Politicians believe that “homosexuality can be treated” because it is like an addiction. Another leader who remains against the protection bill is Protestant Pastor Yonah Lee, a supporter of ex-president Yoon (Rashid, 1). He is known as the ultimate “ex-gay” spokesperson by often describing queer representation as problematic. In 2005, 30% of the population identified as Christian. In 2023, that number has risen which creates more obstacles for those fighting against the “conservative Christian lobby”(Rashid, 1). Today, 41% of the National Assembly identifies as Christian.
Politicians Seeking Change
Despite religious and political leaders creating barriers for sexual orientation and gender equality, there are those who advocate for the protection of gay and transgender communities. Representative Jang Hye-yeong voted that “a nondiscrimination bill means no citizen of this country is subject to state-condoned discrimination. A nondiscrimination bill means nobody is left behind, and now is the time to pass the nondiscrimination bill”(Mitsanas, 1). Jang is in disbelief at how South Korea can be such “an important member of the U.N.” with “an advanced economy” and “is not protecting its citizens’ human rights.” (Mitsanas, 1). Jang exposes how Korea’s powerful religious groups continue to deny the existence of LGBTQ people and that they have a “right to exist”(Mitsanas, 1). Lawmakers are afraid to make noise and challenge “Christian political stances”(Mitsanas, 1). As one of the only queer representatives herself, Jang continues to argue for her community.
Even though South Korea remains one of the world’s wealthiest countries with a democracy, they are an outlier for anti-protection of LGBTQ+ rights. On the F&M Global Barometer of Gay Rights, they score an F and a 56% in 2019. On the F&M Global Barometer of Transgender Rights, South Korea scores an F and a 59% in 2019.
Bibliography
Rashid, Raphael. “How Religion Spurs Homophobia in South Korean Politics.” Nikkei Asia. Nikkei Asia, March 26, 2021. https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/How-religion-spurs-homophobia-in-South-Korean-politics.
Mitsanas, Michael. “South Korea's LGBTQ Community Confronts Crushing Headwinds in Fight for Equality.” NBCNews.com. NBCUniversal News Group. Accessed February 18, 2023. https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/south-koreas-lgbtq-community-confronts-crushing-headwinds-fight-equali-rcna57777.
F&M Global Barometers
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