Queer Revolution~! The Seoul 2015 Pride Festival

In Seoul, it was a tumultuous road to Pride this year. After Christians spent months trying to purchase all the permits available, the police finally refused to give the LGBTQ+ community a space for the pride parade. Initially, the LGBTQ+ community did not lose hope and the Pride Festival continued in front of City Hall as planned. Many European embassies showed their support by creating their own booths at the festival. As the planned date for the Pride Parade grew nearer, there was good news. The Mayor of Seoul declared that there was no legitimate reason to refuse the parade request and to do so would be discrimination. The parade was back on, and I made plans to go with a few friends here in Korea.

For me, this was my first Pride. Although I had no stateside basis of comparison, I had a sneaking suspicion Pride in Korea would be a little different than if I went in the US. As I grew closer to the festival point, I began to hear drumming. Thinking I was hearing the festival, I continued closer only to be greeted by this scene. 

There were police lines on both sides of the street. It was hard to see the actual Pride festival because there were 3 different Christian rallies surrounding it. On one side, there were sign waving and praying believers showing their disapproval as a preacher yelled on encouragement. Across the road, on the other side, there was a huge stage with a jumbotron showing footage of what appeared to be a live show complete with dancing and random shouts of Yesu (Jesus). Finally, closest to me, there were Christians decked out in Hanbok, the Korean traditional dress. They were furiously drumming on Korean traditional drums and instruments, trying to drown out the sounds of the festivities. This, not the Pride Festival, was what I heard. 

As I carefully walked through the protesters and past the policemen standing guard, I made my way to the actual festival. After walking through such hate outside, I was uncertain what I'd find inside. Walking through the gate, however, was like entering a new world. While outside was filled with furious screaming and hate, nobody was letting it bring them down in the festival. Everyone was smiling, looking their best, and ready for a good time. 

 



Around the outskirts of the festival, there were several booths set up. These booths were selling stickers, drinks, art, or just promoting awareness. There were a lot of cool photo spots set up, like the US Embassy brought cardboard cutouts of the Obamas to show their support.

After wandering through the booths and leaving for a long lunch, we came back in the middle of the day. The parade itself wouldn't start until 5, but the festival had performances all day. There was a huge stage in the middle and many people sat down in the green to watch on.

Pansy, looking adorable in rainbow

Born this way~~

 After the performances, it was time for the actual parade. Because of the protesters outside, the festival organizers decided to keep the parade route a secret all day. Finally, right before the festival, they made their announcements. This was the part that most festival goers were most nervous about. Last year, the protesters had laid in the street and refused to move for hours, which kept the parade blocked. This year, some protesters had promised violence. Nevertheless, people of every shape, size, identity, sexuality, and age embarked on this 2 km march around center Seoul.

Parenting at its finest :)

 And, luckily, the Pride parade continued without any major incidents. The police were incredibly on top of everything. The one time I saw a protester enter the parade route, they quickly grabbed him off before injury was caused to either him or the parade goers.

Attending Pride, here in Korea, was extremely special to me. It was heartwarming to see so many people proud or and openly expressing their differences and what makes them special. In a nation that values uniformity, modesty, and heteronormativity, it was really nice to see everyone be so free with themselves and their support for the LGBTQ+ community. 

You make a difference

Obligatory Selfies 

 

The parade marched passed surprised people on buses, waving children in coffee houses, smiling supporters from the subway, and even monks and nuns who were speaking out against homophobia.

  

The parade made it back to Seoul Plaza one hour after it started, keeping to the schedule almost exactly. At the end, all the attendees and performers gathered outside the Plaza to wait for the tail end and continue celebrations. 

 

 

A parade float advocating for marriage equality

 All in all, it was a truly excellent day :)

Burrrrgers

All week I had been craving burgers. I wanted American style burgers with a lot of toppings and deliciousness. So, why not try to make your own delicious burgers! Om nom nom...

Boseong Green Tea Fields

While my students had a camping vacation in Gyeongido, I was lucky enough to travel down south to Jeollanamdo. It was about 2 hours from where I was placed last year. It is a prime photo shop for both Korean and foreign tourists. Unfortunately, I chose the wrong weekend to visit and the tea leaves had just been picked...

But, luckily it was still beautiful. These tea leaves were originally cultivated by the Japanese during the colonial period. Now, they continue to be harvested for both Korea and around the world.

The tourists flock year round to see the beautiful green mountains in the spring, the snow covered crops in the winter, and the foliage in the fall. I'm not sure what's special about the summer. Probably just more green.

After a short hike up the fields, you can look down the hill for a really pretty view.

 

  

Or pose in the fields...

Bleh, I was sick that day. Try the green tea ice cream too. It's really good soft serve there!!

The closest city is  Mokpo. Here are some pics from a sunset hike...where we kinda missed the sunset :/

  

Well, from the peak at least. It was a nice little short vacation before the rain came. Mokpo was a beautiful city :)

Here comes the bride~

The only family I have left in Korea is my grandmother's younger brother and his family. In early May, my second cousin, YoSeob, got married! It was a great time to see the whole family and it was my first time to see a Korean wedding. 

I was especially lucky because grandmother's younger sister was also visiting Korea for the wedding. My Aunt Chunam is pretty good at English and she helped me learn more about my family. 

Here is a distant relative (an English teacher who used to live with my grandmother?), my Aunt Chunam, my second cousin, and her daughter. 

The wedding was in a "Wedding Hall." It was a huge building with several floors dedicated to different weddings. There were two on our floor alone. The actual wedding was in a huge room that was decorated very beautifully.

The groom poses for a photo with the bride slightly behind him.

Then, just like an American wedding, the bride's father walked her down the wedding. Unlike an American wedding, I'm pretty sure the bride rented her dress and it would only be used for this brief part of the ceremony.

The parents of the bride and groom sat on separate sides of the aisle in special chairs.

The grooms parents, aka my relatives

The whole ceremony was done on the raised aisle in the middle of the room. The guests had no assigned seats, but were scattered throughout the hall at tables.

The groom receives the bride and her father

Perhaps one biggest differences between this wedding and a western wedding was the staff member whose job was to adjust the bride's skirt for photos.

Skirt fixing..,..

The ceremony seemed really nice. I unfortunately couldn't understand very much.

There were a lot of songs during the ceremony. Here is a staff member singing a Korean song to the couple.

The decorations in the hall were pretty. There were a bunch of fake trees and chandeliers.

The groom gave a singing performance as well. Here he is serenading his bride.

Please, please, please excuse the horrible filming. I wasn't sure how to use my camera.

There were a few speeches. Here is my grandmother's younger brother sharing some words with the new couple.

Then, there was the bowing. Bowing is incredibly important in Korean culture. First, the couple bowed to the brides parents.

   

And then there was the bowing in front of the grooms parent's. I was sitting nearby, so it was probably the closest I got to the bride and groom.

 

 

And then, everyone bows to the guests as a thank you for our attendance.

And now, the bride and groom are married. Here they are posing as newlyweds. And of course, a photo wound't be complete without the woman adjusting the dress in the background.

After the wedding, I had a chance to get some post wedding photos. Here's some more of the family.

 

Even though Korean modern weddings closely resemble western weddings, there was a tea ceremony at the end in traditional clothes. The newlyweds would pour tea for relatives and then the relatives would share some words of wisdom.

My grandmother's younger brother, his wife, his son, and his wife

 

This was actually the first time I had met my female second cousin. Here she is with her husband, and after with me.

 

My cousin's beautiful hanbok :)