Gay Seoul, Southern Korea | The Primary LGBT Travel Guide!

Gay Seoul is one of the world’s most underestimated travel spots, overlooked continuously because of its much more famous East Asian next-door neighbors. Better-known for Samsung and governmental tensions with North Korea, there is a thriving queer scene here hidden inside plain sight – you only need to understand where to search!

Busy and thoroughly enthusiastic about trend and technologies, the dynamic town of Seoul can be profoundly old-fashioned, with tranquil palaces, temples and mountain tracks. Skyscrapers overshadow stylish hanbok (standard wooden houses), eco-friendly areas and period roads soften industrial difficult edges, and K-Pop is generally heard blaring on almost every street part.

Seoulites have a lot to end up being happy with inside their 24/7 urban area – where you can get whatever you desire, whenever you want – in addition to their gay world let me reveal not an exception. We wish the culture in particular would-be more recognizing…

South Korea all together features a far less accepting view of the LGBTQ community than the majority of the rest of Asia – and while the effectiveness of conservatives and Christian fundamentalists wanes slowly, things are still perhaps not in which they should be.

LGBT recognition features, but fast grown before ten years, especially in the younger generations,  owing to international influences, more queer events, and a higher presence of neighborhood LGBT neighborhood, such as –rather notoriously – celebrity
Hong Seok-cheon
, coming-out in public.

A lot of in Korea think they’ve got never came across a gay individual, and is an interest seldom mentioned, with governmental parties preventing discussion of LGBT rights and several folks burying their heads inside mud.

As a customer, you may be excessively unlikely to have any straight-out discrimination but remember, many queer residents lead two fold physical lives and succumb towards the intimidating societal stress to keep their sexuality private.

South Korea is unquestionably one of the most conventional countries in Asia, but even right here, it’s commercially unlawful as discriminated against based on sexual positioning. Nevertheless, numerous members of the LGBT community nonetheless face difficulties in the home and work, which means Gay Korea has quite a distance to go nonetheless to capture with the more modern neighbors – Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and increasingly Vietnam.

The homosexual world in Seoul, however, keeps growing from year to year features enough fabulous queer enjoyable to offer. Global party guys looking blended foreign/local fun would want to head to the popular Homo Hill in Itaewon, very long associated with gay lifestyle, but natives are more inclined to frequent the main area of Jongno.

Synonymous with skyscrapers, the bustle of Insadong and street barbecues, there was in fact a hidden-in-plain-sight homosexual world here with taverns, karaoke joints, homosexual saunas and cafes than we can easily count.

Not many vacationers actually endeavor to Gay Jongno but know if you are doing that for the pubs and clubs, you’ll continually be welcomed with a smile. Unfortunately, the exact same cannot be stated for Seoul’s gay hot rooms and cruise clubs scene, which positively discriminate against and bar anybody who is non-Korean – it doesn’t matter how acquainted with traditions or even the vocabulary you’re.

Develop this changes in tomorrow and have suggestions that might help, in this esteem, the homosexual world in Seoul nonetheless really has many raising up to do.

Nonetheless, with well over 10 million folks, Seoul is amongst the most significant towns and cities on Earth and has one thing for absolutely everyone. Foods, concept, culture, history and untamed nightlife – this sprawling metropolis has almost everything!

Tourist attractions in Seoul

Normally, being gay does not determine which destinations we would want to see in each urban area, & most queer travelers will just need to check out the leading items to see in Seoul in the day!

Discover such accomplish here – but we discovered our favorite thoughts were roaming through getting lost on back-streets, going to the weird cafes, hitting-up Lotte globe and roaming through style studios!

One of the recommended recommendations we can provide you with for checking out Gay Seoul would be to pre-order a travel SIM card for easy airport pickup and activation when you appear so you wont pay a lot of money in intercontinental roaming charges.

Get restaurants recommendation and bookings throughout the travel, public transport instructions up to the minute, club orifice several hours, and, when it is your own thing – accessibility gay hook-up software to learn more towards neighborhood world.

Mobile data is quickly, cheap and readily available almost everywhere in Asia, it is therefore no surprise most travelers elect to remain linked to get from the beaten track (without previously worrying all about acquiring lost). So just why hold off?
Pre-order top regional SIM card today to have it waiting for you when you arrive.

Nevertheless – it assists to possess some thought of what is going on, very here are the most readily useful things you can do in Seoul, based on you!

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Things you can do  in Seoul

Traditional Korean Bathhouse

Maybe not inside gay sauna? Uncover an original and family-friendly an element of the Korean culture in an attractively adorned and traditional Korean-style bathhouse. Unwind from a tense day’s sightseeing – or evening or partying – in a normal pine lumber spa, appreciate usage of all saunas and vapor rooms including numerous salt and minerals treatments for your epidermis.

To get more luxury, you need to treat you to ultimately a massage therapy, facials or body scrubs? Although the bathhouse is available 24/7, be sure to reserve ahead of time any special treatments to prevent getting left behind.

Cheonggyecheon

A landmark of new metropolitan renovation and ecological restoration, this playground area includes a revived / ‘day-lighted’ stream with pathways, links & greenery.

Myeong-dong

A varied shopping & everyday global dinner destination, the active Myeong-dong is full of worldwide trend brand names, deluxe shops, and homegrown cosmetics shops.

Janet’s Cooking Studio

Take home more than simply images because of this wonderfully unique marketplace trip and standard Korean cooking tutorial with Janet, a Korean cook trained in nyc.

This experience just isn’t about just ticking off visitor must-dos, but instead explores the actual Korea through Janet’s gorgeous meals fixation – which stands out through whether the woman is adding you to definitely vendors in another of Seoul’s few remaining regional road marketplaces or cheerful brightly while exposing for you how to create an ideal Bulgogi Lettuce Wrap back the woman professional kitchen.

Janet provides also caused the UN promoting Korean as well as tradition – you simply know the woman is genuine! You will keep Seoul have real profit recognize strange elements in a Korean marketplace in order to create some delicious standard dishes – whilst researching the unique reputation for Korea and appreciating Janet’s comfortable personality.

A kind and loving soul who’s undoubtedly excited about just what she does, we cannot advise Janet’s preparing Studio highly sufficient.

Fireman Program

An extraordinary show of acrobatics & party, this much-acclaimed tv show makes use of a combination of performance styles to show the pressures of being a fireman. Crazy, we know, but you’ll see why while you are indeed there.

Observe impressive acrobatic lifts and flips, and find out about the importance of flame safety and understanding – being a non-verbal show, it really is well-suited for every vocabulary speakers. Have the affirmative power produced from the melodramatic yet funny entertainers that portray vivacious figures.

Bukchon Hanok Village

An attractive heritage village with a happy 600-year background dating back to for the 14th 100 years. Fill your camera with selfies featuring slim streets lined with restored old-fashioned houses.

Adore Museum

a wacky art gallery of interactive sexual artwork, that is Seoul’s first and so much merely art gallery for adults – but we are yes others tend to be excitedly getting in the offing. View physical tales of love and desire unfold before your sight, get an opportunity to decide to try your own hand at pole dancing – for those who haven’t already – and find out various times of newlyweds’ existence through entertaining artworks.

You will find six-themed galleries, each with a unique interest so that you can discover – and trust you, gay, direct, or unicorn …You won’t have observed such a thing in this way prior to!

Lotte Industry

No trip to Seoul is total without a call to Korea’s top theme park, Lotte World! Lotte community seats are amazingly discounted just for international website visitors, so don’t skip the possiblity to see this enjoyable two-part motif playground with outdoor thrill trips and a ‘Magic Island’ castle region.

Throughout colder months, simply take a coat or spend playtime with the adrenaline-charged indoor tourist attractions within the ‘Adventure’ location, plus sign up for the various parades and shows. If you’d like to perform a lot more, discover a Lotte community + Aquarium combo pass to also contains a call to everyone’s biggest ocean environment tank within Lotte community Aquarium, showcasing over 650 marine varieties across 13 unique areas.

Jongmyo

A UNESCO business history web site and shrine to Joseon dynasty kings & queens. Ritual ceremonies still take place only at that Confucian shrine centered on Joseon dynasty royals. These days Jongmyo is the ideal getting away from the urban busyness and an intriguing considering Old Seoul.

Café Onion

Serving post-industrial decay realness, this Uber-hip design cafe in Seongdong-gu is simply how we would imagine Chornobyl to be if Brooklyn hipsters relocated in. Serving cool baked designs and forte coffee combinations, this area will probably be worth the trek off to learn – only if to understand your monochromatic Instagram fantasies.

They even now have an even more easily known as Café Onion Anguk in Jongno-gu, except in a switched traditional building/temple, in fact it is equally impressive.

Seoul’s Palaces, Temples & Markets

Spend everyday sightseeing and ticking off Seoul’s top web sites. The President’s pad, Blue home (or Cheongwadae), the switching associated with the protections from the magnificent Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changdeok Palace and visiting the National Folk Museum for more information on Korea’s wealthy history from dynasties around the present-day.

Additionally not to ever end up being overlooked will be the calming Jogyesa Buddhist Temple and bargain hunting during the well-known Namdaemun Markets.

Korea Rail Pass (KR PASS

)

Take a look at South Korea away from Seoul by touring on over 80 roads and to over 600 programs making use of the Korea Rail Pass. Get endless rides of all Korail trains for 3 or 5 consecutive days or any versatile 2 and 4 times with this specific discount that will be only available for foreign nationals.

Meerkat & pals

An oh-so-Seoul ‘cafe’ which serves no food and just bottled drinks buts allows you to get fully up close and personal with semi-tame meerkats, raccoons, wallabies, kitties, foxes and more. With areas in Hongdae and Myeongdong, it is touristy and weird, and that’s why we have been preoccupied!

Discover Seoul Pass

Get effortless access to an assortment of 35 leading Seoul tourist attractions making use of the Discover Seoul Pass. Select from 24/48/72 hrs go so you’re able to take pleasure in discounts and freely customize the Seoul travel using this flexible entrance citation and transfer card from the Seoul Tourism Organization, exclusively accessible to overseas vacationers.

ZenKimchi Korean Food Tours

If you find yourself like all of us and planning your trip to Korea for the cooking alone, then you will wish to avoid the touristy places/ poor eating encounters and choose a completely immersive experience to really make the a lot of Seoul’s meals world.

Luckily, Joe, who has been working
Korea’s longest-running food blog site, ZenKimchi,
for over 15 years, has created an exclusively crafted trip to assist people enjoy real Korean dinner. To Get obvious, through this, we imply the guy will get no kickbacks from the restaurants and takes you because he’s really fanatical concerning the fare they serve, unlike much less scrupulous providers…

We plumped for his Korean BBQ concert tour and had a memorable night discovering Korean eating etiquette, savoring best charcoal grilled pork of your existence, appreciating satisfying conversations with different people from across the world – and obtaining a little tipsy over a Korean alcoholic beverages tutorial in a secret pub!

It is also perfect for some pre-drinking before heading out to Homo Hill, and for solo people who might usually find it difficult to encounter Korean BBQ in this way.

There was many trips on offer, but each is operate by passionate professionals who get best interests at heart. Very, if you wish to get-out there to check out Seoul as a local – whilst having a ridiculous level of fun, ZenKimchi Korean foods Tours provides something for your needs.

Gay Annual Events In Seoul

Korea Queer Film Festival (KQFF)

A yearly event in July devoted solely to evaluating gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer movies. KQFF might held annually since 2001 using reported goal of promoting diversity in Korean culture while improving LGBT person rights and recognition.

Very critical Asian online forums of intercontinental LGBT film/video, and in case the times coincide if a method to experience a sophisticated amount of gay life in Seoul.

I WILL BE Seoul

Korea’s largest circuit party brand name, I AM established in 2015 and contains fast come to be one of the more prominent circuit activities across Asia. Now, I AM will continue to attract hundreds of gay people from across Asia as well as the entire world to Gay Seoul.

IM boasts three days of nightclub events, pool parties and after-parties filled with songs as well as the hottest guys. You may expect an unforgettable experience with a killer DJ line-up throughout worldwide and extremely go-go boys on-stage. Ordinarily presented in August, I WILL BE is actually entirely really worth planning a visit about.

Korea Queer Festival Party | Pride Parade

Korea’s largest LGBT festival, this annual modern Korean festival, whoever theme is actually LGBT legal rights, has numerous highlights, such as a pride procession, movie festival occasions, art, discussions and dance club party occasions.

The festival lasts for each week or two and often happens in late May to very early Summer. The procession that has been banned in 2015 attracted international focus on case, with a lot of from it getting important in the progress made regarding LGBT rights in Southern Korea.

Once again taking place, there can be today some help from more compact Korean governmental functions and celebs, but major events and the federal government at-large take a simple posture. Unlike a lot of
different Pride celebrations internationally
, the Seoul Pride Prade definitely limits the capability of attendees to take photographs or videos and asks photo-takers to blur players’ faces before posting pictures using the internet.

This is done to lessen the chance of unintentional excursions of participants which however face significant discrimination in Korean society. Whilst the organizers have large intentions to develop the function toward biggest in Asia, Seoul’s Queer society Festival reveals in lots of ways, Southern Korea is within the rock Age.

120,000 LGBT people honestly participated in 2018 – the greatest actually ever – but 200,000 signatures were additionally collected to avoid the Parade, and thousands of anti-LGBT protestors turned out.

However, it really is amazing observe NGOs and companies obtaining on board given that occasion grows. In a country in which modesty around outsiders is vital and sexual preference is not something you should end up being flaunted, we are able to only expect increased exposure in the foreseeable future assists brand-new generations of South Koreans feel comfortable enough to end up being exactly who they’re.

Gay-Friendly and Gay Hotels in Seoul

Although Korea and Seoul may be much less politically progressive and gay-friendly than, state,
Bangkok
,
Tokyo
or
Taipei
, it is still secure to believe queer people could have no issues checking practically any lodge in Seoul. Sadly, but there are no exclusively gay places in Seoul to evaluate into.

Seoul is actually a worldwide mega-city with a lack of room, so place dimensions tend to be smaller than almost everywhere more in the arena – but as loads of gay males learn, it is not exactly about dimensions, but exactly how you employ it! Our company is making reference to design, functionality and views, darling!

However, everybody likes to end up being enclosed by people with usual interests, and thus, there are a few popular gay-friendly hotels in Seoul being hot areas for gay travelers to stay – either for their place or their unique style and comprehensive vibes.

Hotels near Homo Hill, the foreigner-friendly queer enclave in Itaewon, are incredibly well-liked by homosexual people – specifically tourists just who just talk English but Jongno into the Nagwon-dong area, is truly the gayest section of Seoul, though a lot more popular with residents than site visitors.

You could also consider residing in the tourist-popular Myeongdong / Seoul Central, often considered to be the heart of Seoul or in the world-famous Gangnam district, a.k.a the ‘Beverly Hills of Seoul.’

These resort hotels in Gay Seoul have got all had a glowing advice from homosexual tourists before, however,
you’ll find numerous other places in Seoul
if they’re not exactly what you are looking.

Whether you prefer a great and social hostel, an inexpensive place to freeze after every night of partying or an ultra-chic developer solution to drink cocktails and encompass yourself with fabulous individuals  – Gay Seoul provides some thing for everyone!

Gay-friendly Hotels in Itaewon

Hamilton Resort â˜†â˜†â˜†â˜†

A landmark in Seoul’s Itaewon, this comfortable hotel in a modest redbrick building is only a moment’s stroll from the train section with unfussy spaces, free Wi-Fi and useful team.

You rarely should keep with eight various eating solutions, such as a sleek Italian restaurant, 2 LGBT-friendly nightclubs, an outside rooftop share – well-liked by peacocking muscle gays-, a 24-hour spa, a health club, and also a small mall.

Lately renovated from top-to-bottom and still simply a quick stumble from Homo Hill, HOMPA by Le Queen and Club HIM.

IP Boutique Resort â˜†â˜†â˜†â˜†

Situated in Seoul’s cosmopolitan purchasing and enjoyment area, Itaewon, internet protocol address Boutique resort, provides a new life style knowledge for gay visitors. Featuring exceptional layout and spectacular ambiance, the hotel provides 133 guestrooms, a café cafe, and endless utilization of their unique well-equipped fitness room.

Outstanding value, IP Boutique Hotel is a small walk towards the You should Homme homosexual bar and Club HIM by Pulse, contributing to the gay appeal.

Hotel ITW â˜†â˜†â˜†

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On a clean, modern, attractive lodge in Itaewon with rates as good or much better than most other spots in Seoul. We liked it was within convenient taking walks distance associated with the gay restaurants, bars, and stores that make Itaewon this type of a pulsating and appealing element of Seoul. Hotel ITAW is actually, however, up a steep slope and found on a narrow one-way road that will be challenging after a night of sipping.

Sp@Itaewon Guesthouse â˜†â˜†â˜†

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The right hangout when it comes down to social traveler with personal areas, affordable dorms, and typical BBQ