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

Gay Seoul is just one of the world’s most underestimated vacation spots, overlooked continuously for the more well-known East Asian next-door neighbors. Better known for Samsung and political tensions with North Korea, there is a thriving queer world right here hidden in basic view – you just need to know where to look!

Busy and utterly enthusiastic about style and innovation, the vibrant city of Seoul normally profoundly standard, with calm palaces, temples and hill trails. Skyscrapers overshadow elegant hanbok (conventional wooden homes), green rooms and pattern tracks soften industrial difficult borders, and K-Pop may be heard blaring on almost every road spot.

Seoulites have actually too much to end up being proud of within their 24/7 area – where you are able to get whatever you desire, whenever you want – as well as their homosexual world we have found no exception. We wish the culture at large would be a lot more recognizing…

Southern Korea as one has actually a far less accepting look at their LGBTQ neighborhood than all of the remainder of Asia – although the potency of conservatives and Christian fundamentalists wanes slowly, everything is however maybe not where they need to be.

LGBT recognition has actually, however, fast grown in the past decade, especially in younger generations,  because of intercontinental influences, more queer events, and a louder existence regarding the neighborhood LGBT area, such as –rather famously – star
Hong Seok-cheon
, developing in public places.

Numerous in Korea think obtained never ever met a gay person, and it is an interest seldom spoken of, with governmental functions keeping away from discussion of LGBT legal rights and lots of people burying their heads inside mud.

As a customer, you’re acutely not likely enjoy any straight-out discrimination but realize, lots of queer locals lead dual resides and succumb to your daunting societal stress to keep their sexuality personal.

Southern Korea is unquestionably one of the most conservative nations in Asia, but also here, truly theoretically unlawful to get discriminated against on such basis as sexual orientation. However, lots of members of the LGBT neighborhood still face issues in the home and work, indicating Gay Korea has actually a long way to go still to capture with the even more progressive neighbors – Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and progressively Vietnam.

The homosexual world in Seoul, but is continuing to grow on a yearly basis and also plenty of fantastic queer fun available. Overseas party men looking for blended foreign/local fun will want to drop by the popular Homo Hill in Itaewon, long related to homosexual lifestyle, but locals are more inclined to constant the main region of Jongno.

Similar to skyscrapers, the bustle of Insadong and road barbecues, discover really a hidden-in-plain-sight gay scene right here with an increase of taverns, karaoke bones, gay hot rooms and cafes than we could count.

Not many visitors ever before opportunity to Gay Jongno but know if you will do that for the taverns and organizations, you are going to be welcomed with a smile. Unfortunately, alike cannot be stated for Seoul’s homosexual saunas and cruise clubs world, which actively discriminate against and bar whoever is non-Korean – no matter what acquainted with practices and/or vocabulary you are.

We hope this changes in the long term and possess ideas that might help, however in this regard, the homosexual scene in Seoul nevertheless greatly has some raising around do.

Nevertheless, with more than 10 million people, Seoul is amongst the most significant places on the planet and has one thing for absolutely everyone. Foods, style, culture, record and wild lifestyle – this sprawling metropolis provides it all!

Attractions in Seoul

Obviously, being gay doesn’t establish which destinations a lot of us need to see in each urban area, and the majority of queer tourists will simply wish to look at the leading items to see in Seoul through the day!

There’s a great deal to complete here – but we found well known memories had been wandering through obtaining missing on back-streets, visiting the strange cafes, hitting up Lotte World and wandering through layout studios!

One of the better tips we could present for discovering Gay Seoul should pre-order a vacation SIM card for easy airport pickup and activation when you arrive you will likely not spend a lot of money in worldwide roaming costs.

Get restaurants referral and bookings regarding the fly, public transport guidelines up-to-the-minute, club beginning hours, and, if it is the thing – use of homosexual hook-up software to learn more concerning the neighborhood scene.

Cellphone data is fast, low priced and offered almost everywhere in Asia, therefore it is not surprising many people elect to stay linked to get off the beaten track (without actually worrying all about acquiring lost). So just why hold off?
Pre-order ideal local SIM card today to possess it waiting for you when you appear.

Nevertheless – it assists having some notion of what is going on, very here are the most readily useful things you can do in Seoul, based on all of us!

Things you can do  in Seoul

Old-fashioned Korean Bathhouse

Maybe not inside gay spa? Uncover an original and family-friendly part of the Korean culture in a wonderfully embellished and standard Korean-style bathhouse. Relax from a demanding day of sightseeing – or night or partying – in a traditional pine lumber spa, and revel in the means to access all saunas and steam rooms which include various sodium and minerals treatments to suit your skin.

To get more extravagance, you will want to treat you to ultimately a massage therapy, facials or human anatomy scrubs? Although the bathhouse is actually open 24/7, definitely book ahead any special treatment options in order to avoid missing out.

Cheonggyecheon

A landmark of the latest metropolitan renovation and environmental restoration, this playground area includes a revived / ‘day-lighted’ flow with paths, links & greenery.

Myeong-dong

A varied purchasing & relaxed international eating location, the active Myeong-dong is actually filled with intercontinental fashion brand names, luxury malls, and homegrown cosmetic makeup products shops.

Janet’s Preparing Studio

Collect more than simply images using this wonderfully special industry concert tour and conventional Korean cooking course with Janet, a Korean chef been trained in nyc.

This knowledge is certainly not about merely ticking off visitor must-dos, but rather examines the true Korea through Janet’s beautiful food fixation – which stands out through whether she’s bringing in one sellers in one of Seoul’s couple of staying regional road areas or smiling brightly while disclosing to you personally how to come up with the perfect Bulgogi Lettuce Wrap back in the woman professional cooking area.

Janet has actually worked with the UN to market Korean food and culture – which means you merely know she’s the real thing! You will keep Seoul have real profit determine strange materials in a Korean industry and to make some tasty traditional meals – all the while learning about exclusive reputation for Korea and taking pleasure in Janet’s comfortable character.

A form and enjoying heart who is truly passionate about exactly what she really does, we simply cannot advise Janet’s preparing Studio highly adequate.

Fireman Program

An extraordinary display of acrobatics & dance, this much-acclaimed show makes use of a combination of performance styles to show the pressures to be a fireman. Crazy, we understand, however you will understand why when you’re truth be told there.

Observe impressive acrobatic lifts and flips, and learn about the necessity of flame safety and understanding – and being a non-verbal tv show, really well-suited for every language speakers. Have the affirmative electricity produced because of the melodramatic yet comical performers that portray lively figures.

Bukchon Hanok Village

An attractive history community with a proud 600-year record going back on 14th century. Fill your own camera with selfies featuring narrow roadways layered with restored conventional domiciles.

Like Museum

a quirky art gallery of entertaining sexual artwork, this can be Seoul’s very first and much merely museum for adults – but we have been yes other individuals are excitedly getting in the offing. Enjoy physical tales of love and desire unfold right before your vision, get an opportunity to try the hand at pole dancing – for those who haven’t already – and find out the different minutes of newlyweds’ life through entertaining artworks.

You will find six-themed galleries, each with a unique attraction to help you find – and confidence united states, homosexual, straight, or unicorn …You won’t ever have observed anything such as this prior to!

Lotte Business

No visit to Seoul will be comprehensive without a visit to Korea’s leading motif park, Lotte business! Lotte World passes are amazingly reduced exclusively for overseas visitors, therefore you shouldn’t skip the possibility to visit this enjoyable two-part motif park with outside thrill flights and a ‘Magic Island’ palace place.

While in the colder several months, get a jacket or have fun with the adrenaline-charged interior attractions inside ‘Adventure’ area, plus sign up for the many parades and programs. Should you want to do even more, you will find a Lotte community + Aquarium combination solution to comes with a trip to the world’s largest sea ecology tank during the Lotte community Aquarium, exhibiting over 650 marine species across 13 distinct zones.

Jongmyo

A UNESCO community Heritage site and shrine to Joseon dynasty leaders & queens. Ritual ceremonies still take place at this Confucian shrine centered on Joseon dynasty royals. Now Jongmyo is the ideal escape from the urban hubbub and an intriguing exploring Old Seoul.

Café Onion

Serving post-industrial decay realness, this Uber-hip layout cafe in Seongdong-gu is actually exactly how we would think about Chornobyl are if Brooklyn hipsters relocated in. Serving funky baked productions and forte coffee mixes, this area is worth the trek over to find out – only if to comprehend your monochromatic Instagram ambitions.

Additionally they are in possession of an even more conveniently known as Café Onion Anguk in Jongno-gu, except in a transformed traditional building/temple, and is similarly remarkable.

Seoul’s Palaces, Temples & Markets

Spend a day sightseeing and ticking off Seoul’s most well known sites. The chairman’s pad, Blue home (or Cheongwadae), the altering associated with the protections at the spectacular Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changdeok Palace and stopping by the National Folk Museum to learn more about Korea’s rich record from dynasties as much as the present-day.

Also not to be missed is the comforting Jogyesa Buddhist Temple and bargain hunting in the popular Namdaemun Markets.

Korea Rail Pass (KR PASS

)

Find Southern Korea beyond Seoul by taking a trip on over 80 tracks and also to over 600 programs with all the Korea Rail Pass. Just take limitless tours of all Korail trains for 3 or 5 consecutive times or any flexible 2 and 4 days using this discount which limited for overseas nationals.

Meerkat & pals

An oh-so-Seoul ‘cafe’ which acts no as well as only bottled products buts enables you to get right up near and private with semi-tame meerkats, raccoons, wallabies, cats, foxes and a lot more. With places in Hongdae and Myeongdong, it’s touristy and strange, this is exactly why we’re preoccupied!

Discover Seoul Pass

Get easy access to an assortment of 35 top Seoul attractions making use of the Discover Seoul Pass. Choose from 24/48/72 hrs go so you can take pleasure in discounts and easily modify your own Seoul travel using this flexible entry solution and transfer credit through the Seoul Tourism company, entirely offered to overseas tourists.

ZenKimchi Korean Food Tours

If you’re like united states and planning your trip to Korea for your food alone, then you’ll definitely need avoid the touristy locations/ bad eating experiences and go for a completely immersive experience to help make the a lot of Seoul’s meals world.

Fortunately, Joe, that has been running
Korea’s longest-running meals blog site, ZenKimchi,
for more than fifteen years, has created an uniquely crafted trip to help travelers experience with korean eating. Is clear, through this, we indicate the guy will get no kickbacks from restaurants and guides you because they are really fanatical towards fare they serve, unlike less scrupulous providers…

We decided on his Korean BBQ trip and had a memorable night discovering Korean dining etiquette, savoring a charcoal grilled pork of your life, appreciating rewarding talks with some other people from around the world – and receiving somewhat tipsy over a Korean alcoholic beverages concept in a secret pub!

It is also perfect for some pre-drinking before going out to Homo Hill, and for unicamente travelers who might or else battle to discover Korean BBQ along these lines.

There can be a wide range of trips available, but each one is operate by enthusiastic experts who get needs in mind. Very, when you need to get out indeed there and find out Seoul as a nearby – whilst having a ridiculous quantity of enjoyable, ZenKimchi Korean Food Tours features one thing available.

Gay Annual Events In Seoul

Korea Queer Film Festival (KQFF)

A yearly occasion in July devoted solely to assessment homosexual, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer films. KQFF might held annually since 2001 aided by the stated aim of encouraging range in Korean society while increasing LGBT individual legal rights and recognition.

One of the most critical Asian community forums of worldwide LGBT film/video, while your own dates coincide if ways to experience a advanced amount of homosexual existence in Seoul.

I’M Seoul

Korea’s largest circuit party brand name, I’M launched in 2015 and contains quickly be one of the most preferred routine events across Asia. Today, I AM continues to attract countless gay travelers from across Asia as well as the world to Gay Seoul.

I WILL BE claims three days of club functions, share events and after-parties full of songs and the hottest guys. You may expect an unforgettable knowledge about a killer DJ line-up throughout the world and very go-go kids on-stage. Typically used in August, I WILL BE is totally really worth planning a vacation about.

Korea Queer Festival Celebration | Pride Parade

Korea’s biggest LGBT event, this yearly modern-day Korean festival, whoever motif is actually LGBT legal rights, has numerous features, including a pleasure parade, film event events, art, talks and dance club party occasions.

The event can last for a week or two and in most cases happen in late might to early Summer. The parade that has been prohibited in 2015 lured worldwide awareness of the event, with many from it becoming important associated with progress made relating to LGBT legal rights in Southern Korea.

Yet again occurring, there was now some assistance from smaller Korean governmental events and a-listers, but major parties therefore the government at large take a simple stance. Unlike numerous
some other Pride celebrations around the globe
, the Seoul Pride Prade earnestly limits the power of attendees to just take photos or video clips and requires photo-takers to blur members’ faces before posting photos using the internet.

This is accomplished to reduce the chance of unintentional trips of players which however face considerable discrimination in Korean culture. Whilst organizers have huge intentions to expand the function toward biggest in Asia, Seoul’s Queer customs Festival reveals in many ways, South Korea is in the Stone Age.

120,000 LGBT men and women openly took part in 2018 – the most significant previously – but 200,000 signatures had been additionally obtained to quit the Parade, and thousands of anti-LGBT protestors proved.

Still, it really is incredible observe NGOs and brands getting agreeable as event increases. In a nation in which modesty around outsiders is paramount and intimate choice is certainly not something you should end up being flaunted, we could only expect improved presence as time goes by assists brand new years of South Koreans feel at ease adequate to be whom they are.

Gay-Friendly and Gay Hotels in Seoul

Although Korea and Seoul may be much less politically modern and gay-friendly than, state,
Bangkok
,
Tokyo
or
Taipei
, it is still secure to assume queer travelers may have no issues examining essentially any resort in Seoul. Sadly, but there are no entirely homosexual hotels in Seoul to check into.

Seoul is a worldwide mega-city with a shortage of area, so area dimensions are smaller than almost everywhere otherwise in the field – but as loads of homosexual males understand, it isn’t really about size, but how you utilize it! We’re referring to style, efficiency and views, darling!

With that said, everybody else likes to be in the middle of individuals with common interests, and thus, there are many popular gay-friendly accommodations in Seoul that are hot areas for homosexual tourists to remain – either because of their area or their particular concept and comprehensive vibes.

Hotels near Homo Hill, the foreigner-friendly queer enclave in Itaewon, are extremely popular with gay travelers – particularly people who only speak English but Jongno inside the Nagwon-dong community, is in fact the gayest part of Seoul, though much more popular with residents than visitors.

You can also give consideration to remaining in the tourist-popular Myeongdong / Seoul main, often reported to be one’s heart of Seoul or even in the world-famous Gangnam district, a.k.a the ‘Beverly Hills of Seoul.’

Here places in Gay Seoul have all had a glowing advice from homosexual tourists in earlier times, however,
discover countless various other accommodations in Seoul
if these are nearly what you are in search of.

Whether you prefer an enjoyable and social hostel, an affordable spot to crash after every night of partying or an ultra-chic developer solution to drink cocktails and encircle yourself with fantastic men and women  – Gay Seoul provides some thing for everyone!

Gay-friendly Hotels in Itaewon

Hamilton Hotel â˜†â˜†â˜†â˜†

A landmark in Seoul’s Itaewon, this calm resort in a moderate redbrick building is just a minute’s walk from the subway place with unfussy spaces, no-cost Wi-Fi and useful staff.

You almost never need certainly to keep with eight different food possibilities, including a sleek Italian bistro, 2 LGBT-friendly clubs, an outdoor rooftop pool – well-liked by peacocking muscle mass gays-, a 24-hour sauna, a fitness center, plus a small mall.

Recently refurbished from top-to-bottom and still just a short hit from Homo Hill, HOMPA by Le Queen and Club HIM.

internet protocol address Boutique Hotel â˜†â˜†â˜†â˜†

Situated in Seoul’s cosmopolitan shopping and entertainment area, Itaewon, IP Boutique Hotel, provides another way of living experience for homosexual guests. Featuring excellent concept and magnificent atmosphere, the hotel offers 133 guestrooms, a café cafe, and limitless use of their well-equipped fitness area.

Excellent worth, internet protocol address Boutique resort is only a quick stroll towards the Always Homme homosexual bar and Club HIM by Pulse, contributing to its homosexual popularity.

Resort ITW â˜†â˜†â˜†

(briefly or once and for all shut. Once you learn some thing, please suggest an edit.)

A clear, modern, attractive hotel in Itaewon with costs of the same quality or a lot better than almost every other locations in Seoul. We cherished it absolutely was within convenient taking walks length from the gay restaurants, bars, and shops that produce Itaewon this type of a pulsating and attractive part of Seoul. Hotel ITAW is actually, however, up a steep mountain and situated on a narrow one-way road in fact it is challenging after a night of consuming.

Sp@Itaewon Guesthouse â˜†â˜†â˜†

(Temporarily or permanently shut. Knowing one thing, kindly recommend an edit.)

The perfect hangout for all the personal traveler with private rooms, inexpensive dorms, and typical BBQ