◀ anchor ▶
The Seoul Queer Festival, the venue for the diversity festival that was stopped due to Corona 19, was reopened after 3 years.
According to the organizers, more than 100,000 citizens gathered for this festival.
A number of foreign ambassadors, including the US ambassador to Korea, also participated in the campaign to ban discrimination.
Reporter Kim Jung-woo visited.
◀ Report ▶
The middle of downtown Seoul is dyed with rainbow colors.
A rainbow-colored sticker symbolizing ‘diversity’ was attached to the wrist, and a rainbow-colored flag flew in the square.
The Seoul Queer Festival, which was stopped due to the COVID-19 quarantine, was reopened after 3 years.
An estimated 135,000 people gathered at this event to urge awareness of LGBTQ people and shouted ‘Let’s create a world without discrimination’.
[홍주희·이금하]
“I’m from Incheon.”
The steps of religious figures such as Christianity, Catholicism, and Buddhism were also noticeable, and the parents of LGBTQ children and middle-aged people enjoyed the festival together.
[강선화/성소수자부모연대]
“I got my child’s coming out six years ago, and I’m active at a parent’s group, and I’ve learned a new world because of my child. I can reveal myself and freely express myself at least one day a year…”
The recently appointed US Ambassador to Korea, Philip Goldberg, also expressed solidarity at the podium.
[필립 골드버그/신임 주한 미국 대사]
“I just arrived this week, but I wanted to be part of this event. I’m here for a society where everyone is respected.”
A march was also held, starting from Seoul Plaza and returning through Jonggak Station and Euljiro Ip Station.
Although it is raining heavily, the large-scale march that started in Seoul Plaza continues.
A rally against the event was also held, centered on conservative religious groups, right across from the venue of the Queer Festival.
They also shouted while holding up signs that read ‘Anti-Discrimination Law’ and ‘Anti-Homosexuality’.
“I absolutely oppose homosexual queer events. I oppose it.”
The city of Seoul, fearing a clash between the two sides, reduced the queer festival to one day and allowed the use of Seoul Plaza on condition that it bans the display of pornography.
The police prepared 58 companies, but there were no major clashes as participants from both sides marched on different routes.
This is Kim Jung-woo from MBC News.
Video coverage: Heo Won-cheol / Video editing: Park Hye-rin
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