Seoul Pride to take place Saturday at City Hall Plaza

The Seoul Pride event will take place at City Hall Plaza on Saturday following the successful run of last year’s event that drew thousands of people to the city center.

During Monday’s press conference, the organizational body announced the start of the 19th Seoul Queer Culture Festival, a 10-day event packed with various parades, art exhibitions, and an independent film festival.

This year’s Pride event advocates its new slogan “Queeround,” which signifies the existence of queer people being “around” others and the beginning of a new era or “round” for queer individuals. 

Some 105 booths will be set up by various pro-LGBT groups including the Green Part Korea, Google Korea and Parents and Families of LGBTAIQ People in Korea.

Executive director Hahn Chae-yoon voiced wishes to “create a place of solidarity in civil society.” 

Hahn is among the directors at the event who yearn for a “fairer society” in order to raise LGBTQ awareness in the country.

For the first time this year, LGBT bikers, also known as “rainbow riders,” will spearhead the Pride parade, while the Amsterdam Rainbow Dress -- an art project that embodies struggles facing LGBT people around the world -- will also be showcased. The dress was featured at San Francisco Pride and Athens Pride prior to its appearance in Seoul. 

LGBT student groups from a number of universities including Hongik University and Kyonggi University will also set up booths while groups of LGBT people of faith will represent sexual minorities who are also religious.

This year’s performer lineup includes drag queen Kuciia Diamant, singer-songwriter and DJ Ginger Pop and the performance team “Star Hill,” a group of drag queens put together for a special Beyonce-inspired performance for Pride.

Asked about the lack of celebrity appearances at the event, the organizers reportedly sounded cautious to answer.

“Tiffany from Girls’ Generation and Amber from f(x) have voiced support in the past. But, celebrities in support of the cause also face backlash, and it’s unfair to subject public figures to such pressure.”

The organizers said they are still open to any festival endorsements from celebrities in the future.

By Yim Hyun-su (hyunsu@heraldcorp.com)