Volunteers carry a huge rainbow flag during a parade as part of the Seoul Queer Culture Festival in Euljiro, a major avenue in downtown Seoul, July 1, 2023. AP-Yonhap
By Lee Hae-rin
Organizers of the Seoul Queer Culture Festival (SQCF), a major annual LGBTQ festival, are highly likely to be denied the use of Seoul Plaza for this year’s event. The city government disapproved the event last year as well.
The festival is scheduled for June 1, but the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to hold the Seoul Metropolitan Library’s outdoor book event on that day.
Organizers said Sunday they are currently seeking an alternative public venue for the country’s largest LGBTQ celebration, just as they did last year.
Last year marked the first time the festival was not held in Seoul Plaza, its home since 2015, apart from a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, the city government rejected the organizers’ request to use the plaza and instead allowed a youth concert by the Christian Television System (CTS) Culture Foundation, citing its child- and youth-friendly nature.
In response, the festival was held in Euljiro, a major avenue in downtown Seoul, bringing some 150,000 sexual minorities and their supporters together.
The SQCF organizing committee, Seoul Metropolitan Library and a Christian group named “Boost your youth” applied on March 15 to book Seoul Plaza for their respective events scheduled for June 1, according to organizers and the city government.
On Thursday, the city government consulted with the three parties on rescheduling the dates according to city square management regulations. However, all three sides failed to reach a consensus.
The city government said it already finalized the Seoul Metropolitan Library’s outdoor book reading event to be held every weekend in May, June and October, as well as on Sept. 21, 22 and 29 in the entire Seoul Plaza. June 1 is included in those schedules.
In response, the LGBTQ festival organizers condemned the city government, accusing it of monopolizing public space to prevent the queer event from taking place in its customary venue. They argue that such actions stifle social diversity.
“Promoting Seoul Plaza as an open space for citizens is deceptive, given that its calendar is already saturated with city-led events,” the committee said in a statement, pointing out the venue is booked with city events on most Thursdays, Fridays and weekends in spring and autumn this year.
The city government insisted on the need to use the entire square, citing the large scale of the cultural event, noting that it will host another meeting in early April for further discussions.
