Thousands Gather for Pride Parade in Seoul, Advocating for LGBTQ Rights

Thousands Gather for Pride Parade in Seoul

Thousands of people have demonstrated in the South Korean capital, Seoul, advocating for LGBTQ rights. For the first time since 2015, participants were unable to march to the city hall as counter-demonstrators had gathered there.

Thousands Attend Seoul Pride Parade

Several thousand people took part in a street festival in the South Korean capital, Seoul, advocating for the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals. The highlight of the festival was the annual "Seoul Queer Parade," in which participants marched through the city center in scorching heat. The organizers estimated that 50,000 people participated.

Strong Security Measures and Counter-Protests at Seoul Pride Parade

LGBTQ rights remain a contentious issue in South Korea. Representatives of conservative Christian groups protested loudly against the event on the sidelines of the parade. They chanted slogans such as "No same-sex marriage" and held signs stating, "Marriage is a union between a man and a woman." The street festival and parade were accompanied by heightened security measures by the police.

Numerous Ambassadors Express Solidarity at Seoul Pride Festival

Numerous ambassadors from other countries expressed solidarity with the participants of the festival. In a YouTube video, German Ambassador Michael Reiffenstuel stated, "By participating in this festival, we want to express our unwavering support for the Korean LGBTQ+ community."

Proposed Legislation on Same-Sex Partnerships Introduced in South Korean Parliament

Last month, South Korean lawmakers introduced a bill to recognize same-sex partnerships in parliament, which is currently under review by a committee. Over the past 15 years, numerous attempts to pass laws against the discrimination of sexual minorities have failed.