'Together, our voices carry': Rainbow colors fill Seoul streets at 27th Queer Parade

By Park Hye-won, The Herald Business

The 27th Seoul Queer Parade, the annual LGBTQ+ gathering, drew crowds to the Euljiro and Jongno areas of central Seoul on Saturday. The streets filled with participants dressed in rainbow-patterned clothing, capes and scarves, many carrying rainbow flags.

Yeom, 24, has attended every year since 2022, drawn back by the chance to gather with other members of the queer community. "When we're together, we can make our voices heard — that's what makes it so good," she said with a smile. She added that she planned to donate to the Military Human Rights Center on Saturday, as her younger sibling is currently serving in the military.

A 21-year-old volunteer attending for the first time said everyone, simply by being human, has the right to determine their own sexual orientation and gender identity. "I came here because I want to be seen as a person," she said.

The festival grounds hosted booths from the embassies of France, Australia and Belgium, among others, alongside those set up by LGBTQ+ organizations. Religious groups also drew attention, including Yeonggwang Jeil Church, the Catholic Queer Research Society and the Social and Labor Committee of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism.

Rev. Lee Dong-hwan, 45, of the Korean Methodist Church, offered blessings to visitors at his booth. "Every person, including sexual minorities, should be able to attend church safely and as equals," he said. "The spirit of Jesus is not exclusion or discrimination — it is love and inclusion."

LGBTQ+ student clubs from Korea University, Chung-Ang University and Hanyang University also took part in the festival. Bae Hye-yun, 21, president of "Saram-gwa Saram," Korea University's LGBTQ+ club, said she came to help advance the rights of sexual minorities and to give people who normally find it difficult to be open about their identity a space to connect.

"Wars are breaking out around the world and many forms of violence are rampant, but the world we live in is ultimately all connected," she added. "I'm here hoping for a peaceful world free of war."

Participants were set to march from Exit 5 of Jonggak Station at 4 p.m., passing Myeongdong Cathedral and Seoul Plaza before finishing at Exit 2 of Euljiro 1-ga Station.

Meanwhile, a rally opposing same-sex marriage was held across from Euljiro 1-ga Station, where the festival entrance was located. Demonstrators played hymns and other music at high volume, but no direct confrontations with parade participants occurred.