World Wide Wave

29 Mar 2014

South Korea: Homosexuality legal, yet still taboo

Asia/Pacific

Despite homosexuality being legal and South Korea being one of the world’s highest internet users, being gay is still a social taboo.

With the ongoing threat of war from North Korean, compulsory military service exists for young men. Yet if found to be gay in the military, you risk up to 1 year imprisonment. Worse still is the fact that your dishonourable discharge could haunt you for many years to come as many employers check military records as part of the job application process.

Yet this is the country that has given the world the high-camp of K-Pop. Seoul and other major cities have small but vibrant gay scenes and the American influence plays heavily on this country and helps to bring about positive yet slow change for the local LGBTIQ community.

We spoke with Kalvin – a South Korean born national now living in Melbourne.

Find out more on W3JOY’s South Korea homepage.

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