The Pride march returned to Seoul on Saturday despite heavy rain and hostility from Christian activists, with thousands of participants coming to celebrate and stand up for gay rights in a country where they are lagging behind.
The parade, which had not taken place for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, was targeted by conservative, mostly Christian protesters, calling for '
repentance
' and condemning '
the sin
' of the homosexuality.
Police had tightened security along the route to protect the marchers, who came to listen to speakers, including foreigners, at Seoul City Hall and party, sing and dance to pop music, with rainbow flags. rainbow, accompanied by moving musical stages.
Same-sex marriage remains illegal in South Korea and the country has no legislation prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation.
"
We live our everyday lives pretending we're no different, but today we can be ourselves, express ourselves with confidence, wear the clothes we want and hold hands with our loved ones. lovers
,” exulted Kim Hyun, an activist who came to the march.
"
South Korean society still has a long way to go
," another activist, Joy, who only gave her first name, told AFP.
“
We are always in a situation where our existence is denied
”, he says and “
it is important to be able to show that we exist, even for a day.
»
Among the hostile demonstrators, some, dressed in military-style outfits, erected barricades to obstruct the course of the march.
“
Homosexuality is wrong.
It brings moral corruption and disorder in society, we cannot tolerate that in South Korea
”, justified one of them Hong Sung-bo.
“
I really feel sorry for them.
If only they could meet Jesus, receive the gospel and change, they could live a much healthier life
.”
Speaking along with other diplomats, New Zealand Ambassador Philip Turner, on stage with his partner Hiroshi Ikeda, pleaded for "
everyone to live their lives in freedom and pride
".
Newly appointed US Ambassador Philip Goldberg was booed by protesters, with some suggesting he was gay and accusing the embassy of "
destroying the alliance between the two countries
".
Read alsoRomania: pride march amid concern for LGBT rights
"
I was there for the first time in 2018 and the forces around us today show us that this fight remains very important
", commented from the tribune of the town hall the Norwegian ambassador Frode Solberg, calling on the participants in the march to "
stay brave and proud
".