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| Travel & Resources: KOREA
Please help us keep these listings up-to-date. Special thanks to johnuis, alwaystravln, ABC, byungdohsuh, Jason, marcr, BrianT, JiHoon, barry_bonk, Jack G., Sean, Marc R., Han-Su, Jimmy K., Chad, Mark, C.H. Lee, Tom D., Richard S., Bob Dog, Bruno, Mark D., Asiaboy, T. Kim, KwangjuGay, Rus H., Rob T., Dae Hyun, Drew, James Doell, Ken, Roger, John S., Phillip, P. Kim, David B., Stan T., Todd K., Bob W., J. K. Park, Lacoste, and Neil! |
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Advisory: Homosexuals in Korea have no established tradition of overtly discriminatory laws to struggle against. There are no sodomy laws proscribing oral or anal intercourse, largely because these acts have traditionally been considered utterly unmentionable in any public forum or document. Homosexuality has never been brought before Korean courts. No one has mentioned homosexuality in any divorce proceedings, custody or adoption battles. Never-the-less, Korean society is extremely conservative. A popular children's TV show host was dismissed from his job when he became the first celebrity to proclaim his homosexuality to the public. The number of homosexuals coming out of the closet is growing every day. Korea witnessed its first lesbian commitment ceremony on November 27, 1995. Recent comments from the judiciary have been supportive of same-sex partnerships. Anti-discrimination laws have been enacted protecting homosexuals and education about homosexuality is now taking place in lower schools. Seoul has both an annual GLBT film festival and a Queer Culture festival.
On November 1, 2001, the Ministry of Information and Communications formally enacted an internet
content rating system classifying gay and lesbian websites as "harmful media" and mandating their blockage--all under the guise of protecting youth. The Ministry acted after an April 2001 decision by the Korean Information and Communications Ethics Committee (ICEC)--an officially independent body with wide censorship powers--which classified homosexuality under the category of "obscenity and perversion" in its "Criteria for Indecent Internet Sites." Activists in Korea trace the roots of this definition to a 1997 law that classifies descriptions of "homosexual love" as "harmful to youth." The MIC accepted this classification in July. Enforcement of these measures was swift. The owner of Exzone.com, the first and largest gay website in Korea, received a notice stating that if it did not immediately mark itself as a 'harmful site' and install filtering software to prevent youth access, he would be penalized with a fine of approximately US$10,000 or two years imprisonment.
The Korean LGBT community fought against the anti-gay law for two years. On January 10, 2002, Exzone.com in affiliation with Lesbian and Gay Alliance Against Discrimination (LGAAD) and the Lawyers for a Democratic Society filed the first lawsuit against Korean government for unconstitutionally blocking access. A court decision was made on August 14, 2002 that freedom of speech and expression were not applicable regarding homosexuality, and allowed for outrageous penalties, including two year imprisonment, to be enforced. This decision invigorated local and international human rights efforts to have the law changed.
On April 2, 2003 the Korean National Human Rights Protection Committee officially advised Korea's Youth Protection Committee to remove anti-gay language from the 1997 Youth Protection Act that that underpinned the 2001 Ministry of Information and Communications decision. Korean queer activist, Huso Yi, calls the reversal of the Youth Protection Act wording "one of the most important turning points in the Korean LGBTQ rights movement."
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The updated and expanded 2nd Edition of the Utopia Guide to South Korea offers a remarkable insider's glimpse at the gay and lesbian scene in 7 cities including Seoul, Pusan, Taegu and Taejon. Listings include organizations, bars, discos, accommodations, spas, restaurants, and more. A special section highlights venues that are especially welcoming for women. Enjoy savvy comments and recommendations from local Utopians and gay travelers. Click here to order
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Korea Listings by City:Other cities and provinces are listed below...
- Happy & Safe Guide Book
This gay guide and AIDS/HIV educational booklet has gay scene maps in Korean for five major cities. Inquire at the bars. We found our copy at Always Homme in Seoul.
- Chingusai (Between Friends)
3/F Myodong Bld, 183 Myodong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, +82-2-745-7942, FAX +82-2-744-7916, email. The oldest and only gay men's rights organization in Korea, Chingusai is a successor of Chodong-hoe, the first homosexual activist group in the country, organized in 1993. Chingusai has served as a shelter for Korean gay men, who have no official or public voice of their own, and as an arena for struggle against all prejudice and oppression directed at homosexuals. Check their website for events and activities.
 Korea AIDS/HIV organizations and information
- Korean Sexual Minority Culture and Rights Center (KSCRC)
5/F Samheung Bld, 256-2 Hangangno, 2-Ga Yongsan-gu, 140-871, Seoul Korea, (82-2) 797-5034, email. The first center for sexual minorities (e.g. lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, iban, tongsungyaeja, and "?"), people living with HIV/AIDS, and those who support the rights of sexual minorities in Korea. KSCRC aims to provide safe/creative place for culturing their own sexualities and genders as well as empowerment via cultural events, research, education, policy advocacy, counseling, and publication. KSCRC serves as a national center to protect and promote the well being of Korean sexual minorities as well as to celebrate our diversity.
- Korea Queer Culture Festival
0505-336-2003, 0505-339-2003, email. Organizers of the annual pride festival in Seoul.
- Solidarity for LGBT Human Rights of Korea
5/F Tojong Wang-Sundae Bld #11, Dongja-Dong, Yongsan-Gu, Seoul, (822) 778-9982, FAX (822) 775-9983, email. This group seeks to abolish discrimination against sexual minorities; foster cooperation among minority groups; establish an alliance against oppression of workers; establish shields against illegal investigation of gay bars and biased news reporting about sexual minorities; and to strengthen HIV/AIDS education aimed at youth.
Andong (Gyeongsangbuk-do Province)
Comments from Utopians:
"Andong - Spa Land has a mixed crowd. Very friendly and elaborate. Next to the train station, across from the roundabout and flower shop. You will see Toupe (men's wig shop) on the right side of the street. It has some Chinese writing in red and blue. It's very mixed but on 4/F there is a small sleeping room you can go into. Sleep on the left side and show off your body a little and some older guys (40s-50s) will come and touch you. I had fun on three occassions. Some of the guys there are just amazing to look at." -- brizner, Apr 7, 2010
Bupyeong (Incheon)
- The One
Coming out from Exit 2 of Bupyeong Station, walk towards the two lane streets in front of you that are on the left of Lotte Mart shopping center. You will pass by a fenced-up golf driving range. The One is facing this driving range. Look for the English sign. A KTV pub owned by a couple and friendly towards foreigners. Around 80sqm, seating around 30. Songs selections are mainly Korean, but they have a few pages of English songs as well.
Gwangju / Kwangju -- area code (82-62)
The population of Gwangju is 1.4 million (that's over 55,000 Utopians).
Most of the gay bars (there are around 10) are located on the opposite side of the street from Gwangju Bank Tower. To take a taxi to the bank tower, tell the cab driver, "Geum nam sa gori Gwangju oo nae ka joo sayo." When you get out at the tower, go directly across the street. In the area, one block behind the main street, there are many motels and gay bars. Get a map from one of the bar owners and better directions. Everyone is very friendly, though English is not commonly spoken. You will be made to feel very welcome in all of the bars.
- Bear
- Enjoy
- Chungsachorong
- Dae-in Sojubang
- DVD (Babylon DVD)
- Fantasia
B/F COAX Bld, 222-8007. Owner speaks English. Popular with 30-50s crowd.
- J&B
- M
- Man Club
- Pyung Hwa (Little Peace)
228-2189. Between Kum Nam No (Gold South St) and the river (near the bridge with stone tiger heads) across from a major movie theatre. This hole-in-the-wall is damp and run down (underground), but the staff can give a lot of information English and draw maps to other places.
- S
226-9420. Friendly pub with karaoke.
- Sac
Comments from Utopians:
"Gwangju seems to have it's own version of Homo Hill, across from the Kwangju Bank Tower. As in Itaewon, the bars mentioned are mostly located very close to one another." -- gaysoulpinas, Jun 1, 2010
- Kum Nam No shopping center facilities, late night
- A good spa (quite gay, discreet) is located between and parallel to Kum Nam No and Art St (Art St is mentioned in may tourist pamphlets). Across from the YMCA is the Foreign Exchange Bank. Cut down this road and the spa is well down the first left. The spa is indicated by a typical sauna symbol and a rotating barber pole. The sleeping room can be quite active. Friendly for foreigners.
Comments from Utopians:
"This place is a gym and has a sauna, but the sleeping area is very small." -- gaysoulpinas, Jun 1, 2010
- GumGang Sauna (mixed)
Yudong Sa 4 Gori (beside the Yudong Middle School). Easy to locate because its in the only tall building. Very busy during the nights, especially on weekends.
Comments from Utopians:
"To find it, go to the Lotte department store during business hours and go up the elevator to the top floor. Look out the window and look for the tall building in the distance that says "Jazz Bar" near the top (it's a glass, wedge-shaped building). This is where the sauna is. Walk along that street at the five-point intersection to reach it. It's not a gay sauna, though. Sometimes local straights and teenagers go there, so be discreet even though 95% of the customers are gay. Only the middle-aged manager is gay (he also speaks Japanese). The two younger male workers are not. Why they work there is a mystery. They will bark at you if they see you being frisky in the shower or sauna; keep your play confined to the sleeping room downstairs (and pretend to not be having fun when they come in there to change the dirty blankets!)" -- ernst, Aug 14, 2010
"Men here use blankets to cover themselves - too shy to show themselves, hehehe." -- gaysoulpinas, Jun 1, 2010
Comments from Utopians:
"The only gay jjimjilbang in Gwangju (according to locals) is located across the street from the KB Building in the gay area right near the bars. It's called Kkaji (written in Hangeul on the green sign in the staircase of its building). Go to the street opposite the KB building facing the bars. It is the small street between KB and the convenience store mini-stop. About 25 feet on your left as you walk this street toward the bars is a staircase in a building illuminated by a blue light. You'll see the 40cm X 30 cm green Kkaji sign on the wall as you go up the stairs. It's on 3/F and costs W$10,000/night. Put your shoes in a locker at the door and give your money and key to the older attendant, who will give you a clothes locker key. Kkaji is small: there are about 16 stations in four rooms (none private or with doors) and three computers with Net under a TV playing gay videos. All ages and types go there and it is busiest on weekends. It's old, but clean, and foreigners are welcome by the friendly older workers who love inspecting your package; be careful in the showers because the water can scald you!" -- ernst, Aug 14, 2010
Jinju (South Gyeongsang Province) -- area code (82-55)
The population is over 350,000 (that's more than 14,000 Utopians).
- ID
Located next to the Express Bus Terminal and a big hospital. If you are across the street from the Express Bus Terminal, you will see a side street on the right side of terminal. Walk down to the end of the street and ID bar will be on your right side. A nice, small place, that also has singing. The owner doesn't speak English so if you don't speak Korean, try to go with a Korean friend.
PUSAN / BUSAN -- area code (82-51)
SEOUL -- area code (82-2)
Suwon (Gyeonggi-do Province)
Suwon is a large city just 30k south of Seoul. The population is over a million (that's more than 40,000 Utopians).
Comments from Utopians:
"Double Zzimbang (a sleeping room with massage) 031-254-6374. This place is located in Mae San Market street near Suwon Subway Station. Cross the pedestrian overpass (at the subway station's right side) and come down in right side. Go left down the first alley and go left down the alley about 50m at a dead-end alley and then there's Mae San Market street. Find the Dae Woo Apartment 105' side (or Pruzio ATP). DOUBLE Zzim Bang is on 2/F on the left side of the building (right building is under construction)." -- reoboy500, Apr 21, 2010
TAEGU / DAEGU -- area code (82-53)
TAEJON / DAEJON -- area code (82-42)
- Bean Pole
Diagonally across from LA and hidden in a creepy alleyway. Friendly anju bar with many hosts. This place can get quite lively on Sat. You will need a guide from LA to find it
(tip him). The whole area around the train station is rough and a center of prostitution, so don't
get drunk and stay out of conflicts.
- The Blue Wolf (mixed)
Located next to the Kyobo Insurance Building in downtown Shinhae. It is supposedly straight but is frequented by gay teachers trying to protect their image with colleagues. The owner speaks English and behaves more camp and gay than some of the customers. As the other gay bars in Daejon are pretty dismal the Blue Wolf should be given support.
- LA
Anju bar across from the train station and north, 3 or 4 blocks, just past a gas station. The LA sign is right at street level. You will be pressured to buy expensive snacks.
- SF
Near Sungmo Ogori. Karaoke style bar. It can get pretty busy on the weekends.
- OK Sang (mixed)
SamYangJang Motel, 632-9738. Take the stairs all the way to the rooftop of the motel (about 6 floors) and someone will great you at the top. A hyugetel / sumyuntel (a sleeping room or jjimjilbang). The owners are very friendly. Both straight and gay men go here to sleep/rest. Big comfortable rooms, large TV lounge.
- ZZimbang
Rooftop of Samyangjang Motel, near the Yongjeon-Dong bus terminal. Not exactly a sauna, but rather Japanese-style sleeping rooms and meeting place for fun. Use the entrance in the alley where Hotel Chamonix is located (a large, modern stand-alone brick structure) and go up to the roof top where you can see the entrance for ZZimbang. Directions from the Dongbu inter-city bus terminal: exit through the main entrance/exit, look down the steps to the row of telephone booths, and on the other side of the road you will see a small alley opening between two kimbap restaurants. From there just climb the stairs to the motel and continue up 5 or 6 flights to the rooftop. No signs but you will be welcomed by friendly staff when you enter the house. Not a fancy facility, but cleanly maintained. The showers and rest/locker facilities are basic, but it is cruisy and worth the door charge if you just want to go someplace for fun and to crash for the night. Good mix of all ages and busiest after midnight and on weekends.
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