Gay Seoul, South Korea | The Main LGBT Travel Guide!

Gay Seoul is among the world’s the majority of underestimated travel spots, overlooked constantly for the more well-known eastern Asian neighbors. Better-known for Samsung and governmental tensions with North Korea, there is a thriving queer world right here concealed in plain picture – you simply need to know where to look!

Hectic and entirely enthusiastic about style and technologies, the dynamic city of Seoul can profoundly old-fashioned, with calm palaces, temples and hill tracks. Skyscrapers overshadow stylish hanbok (conventional solid wood domiciles), eco-friendly spaces and cycle routes soften commercial tough sides, and K-Pop could be heard blaring on nearly every road place.

Seoulites have too much to be happy with in their 24/7 area – where you can get what you may want, anytime – and their gay world we have found not an exception. We want the community at large could well be a lot more taking…

Southern Korea as one has a less accepting view of the LGBTQ neighborhood than a good many rest of Asia – and even though the effectiveness of conservatives and Christian fundamentalists wanes slowly, things are still maybe not in which they need to be.

LGBT recognition provides, but rapidly grown in earlier times decade, especially in younger years,  courtesy worldwide influences, even more queer events, and a louder presence associated with regional LGBT society, such as –rather notoriously – star
Hong Seok-cheon
, being released publicly.

A lot of in Korea believe they usually have never ever fulfilled a gay individual, and is a subject seldom talked-about, with political functions steering clear of discussion of LGBT liberties and lots of men and women burying their unique heads for the mud.

As a visitor, you may be acutely extremely unlikely enjoy any outright discrimination but bear in mind, lots of queer locals lead dual physical lives and succumb on daunting social force to keep their sexuality personal.

South Korea is unquestionably one of the more conventional nations in Asia, but even here, truly theoretically unlawful is discriminated against on the basis of intimate positioning. However, numerous members of the LGBT community still face difficulties yourself and work, which means Gay Korea features quite a distance to go however to capture up with its even more progressive next-door neighbors – Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and progressively Vietnam.

The gay scene in Seoul, but is growing every year features many fantastic queer enjoyable to provide. Foreign celebration young men wanting blended foreign/local enjoyable would want to visit the famous Homo Hill in Itaewon, very long involving homosexual nightlife, but locals are more inclined to constant the main section of Jongno.

Similar to skyscrapers, the bustle of Insadong and street barbecues, discover actually a hidden-in-plain-sight homosexual world here with an increase of bars, karaoke bones, homosexual hot rooms and cafes than we can easily count.

Few tourists actually ever venture to Gay Jongno but determine if you are doing that for the taverns and clubs, you can expect to be welcomed with a smile. Sadly, equivalent can not be said for Seoul’s gay hot rooms and cruise groups scene, which actively discriminate against and bar whoever is actually non-Korean – no matter how acquainted with customs or perhaps the language you happen to be.

We hope this changes in the future and get ideas that might help, but in this admiration, the gay world in Seoul however considerably has many expanding doing perform.

Nevertheless, with well over 10 million men and women, Seoul is just one of the greatest cities in the world and it has something for everyone. Foods, layout, society, history and wild lifestyle – this sprawling area features it-all!

Tourist attractions in Seoul

Obviously, being homosexual will not establish which attractions a lot of us should see in each city, and most queer tourists will simply wish investigate top factors to see in Seoul in the day!

You will find so much to complete here – but we discovered the most popular memories were roaming through getting missing on back-streets, visiting all odd cafes, hitting-up Lotte business and wandering through concept studios!

One of the recommended ideas we can present for checking out Gay Seoul is pre-order a vacation SIM credit for easy airport pickup and activation the minute you arrive and that means you will not spend tons of money in intercontinental roaming costs.

Get restaurants advice and bookings on the travel, public transport guidelines up to the minute, club opening many hours, and, if it is your own thing – entry to gay hook-up software to find out more regarding local scene.

Mobile phone information is fast, low priced and readily available all over the place in Asia, so it’s no wonder most people choose to stay linked and acquire off the beaten track (without actually worrying about acquiring lost). So why hold off?
Pre-order the most effective local SIM credit now for it waiting for you whenever you arrive.

Nevertheless – it assists to own some thought of what is happening, very here are the most readily useful activities to do in Seoul, per all of us!

Things you can do  in Seoul

Traditional Korean Bathhouse

Not into the gay sauna? Uncover an original and family-friendly part of the Korean culture in a wonderfully embellished and conventional Korean-style bathhouse. Relax from a tense day’s sightseeing – or evening or partying – in a traditional oak timber spa, and revel in use of all saunas and vapor rooms that include different sodium and minerals treatments for your skin.

For much more lavishness, why not treat yourself to a massage, facials or body scrubs? Even though the bathhouse is actually open 24/7, make sure you reserve ahead of time any special treatment plans in order to prevent getting left behind.

Cheonggyecheon

A landmark of new urban repair and environmental rejuvenation, this park space includes a revived / ‘day-lighted’ flow with walkways, links & greenery.

Myeong-dong

A varied purchasing & relaxed global eating location, the active Myeong-dong is packed with international manner brand names, luxury shops, and homegrown beauty products stores.

Janet’s Cooking Studio

Take home more than simply photographs with this specific fabulously unique market tour and conventional Korean cooking class with Janet, a Korean cook been trained in nyc.

This experience isn’t about just ticking down vacationer must-dos, but instead examines the real Korea through Janet’s gorgeous meals obsession – which shines through whether she actually is bringing in you to definitely vendors in just one of Seoul’s few continuing to be local street areas or smiling brightly while exposing to you how to come up with the most perfect Bulgogi Lettuce Wrap back the woman professional home.

Janet has even worked with the UN to market Korean food and tradition – which means you simply know the woman is the real thing! Might leave Seoul with the ability to identify strange components in a Korean market and whip up some delicious traditional dishes – whilst studying the unique reputation for Korea and taking pleasure in Janet’s comfortable character.

A kind and loving heart who is truly excited about exactly what she really does, we simply cannot recommend Janet’s preparing Studio highly sufficient.

Fireman Show

An amazing screen of acrobatics & dance, this much-acclaimed tv series utilizes an assortment of overall performance designs to state the strains of being a fireman. Weird, we know, however you will realise why while truth be told there.

Discover remarkable acrobatic lifts and flips, and learn about the importance of flame safety and consciousness – and being a non-verbal show, it’s well-suited for many vocabulary speakers. Feel the affirmative electricity produced because of the melodramatic yet funny entertainers that portray vivacious figures.

Bukchon Hanok Village

A beautiful history town with a satisfied 600-year background dating back to towards the 14th century. Fill your own camera with selfies featuring slim streets layered with restored old-fashioned domiciles.

Fancy Museum

a quirky art gallery of interactive erotic art, this might be Seoul’s first and thus much only museum for grownups – but we’re positive other people are eagerly getting planned. See physical tales of love and need unfold right before the eyes, get an opportunity to try your hand at pole dance – when you yourself haven’t currently – and see various times of newlyweds’ life through entertaining artworks.

You can find six-themed galleries, each with a unique destination for you yourself to find – and rely on all of us, homosexual, right, or unicorn …You won’t have observed everything similar to this before!

Lotte Business

No trip to Seoul is full without a call to Korea’s leading motif playground, Lotte globe! Lotte industry seats tend to be interestingly reduced exclusively for international site visitors, very don’t miss out the opportunity to check out this fun two-part motif playground with backyard excitement tours and a ‘Magic Island’ castle area.

During the colder months, simply take a coat or enjoy the adrenaline-charged indoor attractions inside ‘Adventure’ location, plus sign up for the various parades and shows. If you want to do more, there clearly was a Lotte globe + Aquarium combination violation to comes with a trip to everyone’s biggest sea environment tank at Lotte business Aquarium, exhibiting over 650 marine types across 13 unique areas.

Jongmyo

A UNESCO World Heritage site and shrine to Joseon dynasty kings & queens. Ritual ceremonies however happen at the Confucian shrine aimed at Joseon dynasty royals. Today Jongmyo is the ideal escape from the metropolitan busyness and an intriguing looking at Old Seoul.

Café Onion

Serving post-industrial decay realness, this Uber-hip design cafe in Seongdong-gu is basically exactly how we would think about Chornobyl is if Brooklyn hipsters relocated in. Serving funky baked productions and specialized coffee mixes, this place is worth the trip over to learn – only if to understand your monochromatic Instagram ambitions.

In addition they already have an even more easily labeled as Café Onion Anguk in Jongno-gu, except in a converted standard building/temple, basically just as remarkable.

Seoul’s Palaces, Temples & Industries

Spend every single day sightseeing and ticking off Seoul’s most popular internet sites. The chairman’s pad, Blue home (or Cheongwadae), the modifying regarding the protections from the spectacular Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changdeok residence and visiting the National Folk Museum for more information on Korea’s wealthy history from the dynasties to the present-day.

In addition not to end up being missed may be the calming Jogyesa Buddhist Temple and bargain hunting on well-known Namdaemun industries.

Korea Rail Pass (KR PASS

)

Discover Southern Korea beyond Seoul by taking a trip on over 80 routes in order to over 600 channels using the Korea Rail Pass. Get endless rides on most Korail trains for 3 or 5 consecutive times or any flexible 2 and 4 days because of this rebate that is only available for overseas nationals.

Meerkat & Friends

An oh-so-Seoul ‘cafe’ which acts no as well as just bottled beverages buts allows you to wake up close and personal with semi-tame meerkats, raccoons, wallabies, cats, foxes and. With places in Hongdae and Myeongdong, it is touristy and unusual, and that’s why we’re preoccupied!

Discover Seoul Pass

Get easy access to a combination of 35 top Seoul attractions making use of the find Seoul Pass. Select from 24/48/72 several hours pass to enjoy discounts and easily modify your Seoul travel with this versatile entry ticket and transport credit through the Seoul Tourism company, specifically offered to foreign visitors.

ZenKimchi Korean Foods Tours

If you’re like us and planning your trip to Korea for cuisine by yourself, then you will need steer clear of the touristy locations/ bad dining encounters and choose for a totally immersive knowledge to help make the most of Seoul’s meals world.

Luckily, Joe, that has been running
Korea’s longest-running meals blog site, ZenKimchi,
for more than fifteen years, has established an uniquely crafted concert tour to assist tourists discover actual Korean food. Becoming clear, through this, we indicate the guy will get no kickbacks from the restaurants and guides you because he’s genuinely fanatical concerning fare they serve, unlike much less scrupulous workers…

We decided on their Korean BBQ tour along with an unforgettable evening finding Korean dining decorum, savoring the greatest charcoal grilled pork of our own existence, appreciating rewarding discussions with various folks from across the world – and obtaining somewhat tipsy over a Korean alcoholic drinks tutorial in a key pub!

Additionally, it is ideal for some pre-drinking before heading out to Homo Hill, and for solo travelers exactly who might normally struggle to enjoy Korean BBQ along these lines.

Discover numerous tours going around, but are all operated by passionate professionals who get needs in mind. Thus, should you want to get-out there to see Seoul as an area – while having a ridiculous level of fun, ZenKimchi Korean Food Tours has anything for your needs.

discover how academic and professional dating sites can help you improve your skills

Gay Annual Events In Seoul

Korea Queer Film Festival (KQFF)

An annual event in July dedicated solely to evaluating gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer movies. KQFF has-been held yearly since 2001 making use of mentioned goal of motivating variety in Korean society while improving LGBT human legal rights and recognition.

Probably one of the most crucial Asian message boards of international LGBT film/video, if in case your times coincide if ways to encounter a very innovative amount of gay existence in Seoul.

I’M Seoul

Korea’s largest circuit party brand, I WILL BE launched in 2015 and it has rapidly be probably one of the most well-known circuit events across Asia. Today, I WILL BE will continue to entice numerous gay people from across Asia and also the world to Gay Seoul.

I’M carries three days of pub events, swimming pool functions and after-parties filled up with music therefore the hottest guys. You could expect an unforgettable knowledge about a killer DJ line-up from all around the entire world and very go-go men on stage. Usually used in August, I AM is actually completely well worth planning a trip around.

Korea Queer Festival Celebration | Pride Parade

Korea’s biggest LGBT festival, this annual modern Korean event, whose theme is actually LGBT legal rights, has numerous shows, such as a satisfaction procession, movie festival occasions, art, conversations and club celebration events.

The event lasts for per week or two and often occurs in later part of the will to early June. The procession that has been banned in 2015 lured worldwide awareness of case, with many of it getting crucial associated with development made concerning LGBT legal rights in Southern Korea.

Yet again happening, there is certainly today some service from smaller Korean governmental events and celebrities, but major functions additionally the federal government in particular take a neutral posture. Unlike lots of
different Pride celebrations around the globe
, the Seoul Pride Prade actively restricts the power of attendees to take pictures or videos and requires photo-takers to blur participants’ confronts before publishing photographs on the web.

This is done to decrease the possibility of accidental excursions of members who nevertheless face significant discrimination in Korean society. While the organizers have large plans to grow case with the greatest in Asia, Seoul’s Queer customs Festival reveals in many ways, South Korea is in the rock Age.

120,000 LGBT folks openly took part in 2018 – the most significant actually ever – but 200,000 signatures were also gathered to quit the Parade, and a great deal of anti-LGBT protestors turned out.

Nonetheless, it’s incredible to see NGOs and brands getting on-board just like the occasion increases. In a country in which modesty around outsiders is vital and sexual preference isn’t something you should end up being flaunted, we can only hope improved presence later on assists new generations of South Koreans feel comfortable enough to be which they are.

Gay-Friendly and Gay Resorts in Seoul

Although Korea and Seoul might-be much less politically modern and gay-friendly than, state,
Bangkok
,
Tokyo
or
Taipei
, it’s still safe to presume queer travelers will have no issues examining virtually any resort in Seoul. Unfortunately, but there are not any solely homosexual resort hotels in Seoul to evaluate into.

Seoul is actually a major international mega-city with a lack of room, so area sizes tend to be smaller compared to almost everywhere else on the planet – but as enough gay men know, it isn’t really all about size, but how you use it! We have been writing about concept, functionality and views, darling!

However, everyone wants to be enclosed by people who have typical interests, and as such, there are a few well-known gay-friendly hotels in Seoul which can be hot spots for gay people to stay – either because of their area or their layout and inclusive vibes.

Hotels near Homo Hill, the foreigner-friendly queer enclave in Itaewon, are really popular with homosexual tourists – specifically tourists just who just communicate English but Jongno in the Nagwon-dong neighbor hood, is really the gayest area of Seoul, though very popular with locals than visitors.

You can also give consideration to staying in the tourist-popular Myeongdong / Seoul main, typically reported to be the center of Seoul or perhaps in the world-famous Gangnam area, a.k.a the ‘Beverly Hills of Seoul.’

Listed here hotels in Gay Seoul have got all had a glowing advice from gay travelers in past times, but of course,
you can find countless various other motels in Seoul
if they’re not quite what you are actually interested in.

Whether you desire a fun and social hostel, an affordable destination to crash after per night of partying or an ultra-chic designer choice to drink cocktails and encompass your self with fabulous folks  – Gay Seoul features some thing for all!

Gay-friendly Resorts in Itaewon

Hamilton Resort â˜†â˜†â˜†â˜†

A landmark in Seoul’s Itaewon, this calm resort in a modest redbrick building is a moment’s stroll from the subway place with unfussy spaces, cost-free Wi-Fi and useful staff.

You hardly ever want to keep with eight various food solutions, including a glossy Italian restaurant, 2 LGBT-friendly clubs, a backyard roof swimming pool – favored by peacocking muscle gays-, a 24-hour spa, a fitness center, and even a small mall.

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

IP Boutique Hotel â˜†â˜†â˜†â˜†

Located in Seoul’s cosmopolitan purchasing and activity area, Itaewon, internet protocol address Boutique resort, gift suggestions a way of life knowledge for homosexual friends. Featuring exceptional concept and spectacular atmosphere, the hotel offers 133 guestrooms, a café restaurant, and limitless use of their unique well-equipped physical fitness space.

Excellent price, internet protocol address Boutique resort is just a quick walk into the Always Homme homosexual bar and Club HIM by Pulse, adding to their homosexual appeal.

Resort ITW â˜†â˜†â˜†

(briefly or completely shut. Knowing one thing, kindly advise an edit.)

On a clean, contemporary, appealing lodge in Itaewon with rates of the same quality or much better than almost every other locations in Seoul. We liked it absolutely was within convenient strolling length for the homosexual restaurants, bars, and retailers which make Itaewon these types of a pulsating and appealing element of Seoul. Hotel ITAW is actually, but up a steep hill and situated on a narrow one-way street which is challenging after per night of ingesting.

Sp@Itaewon Guesthouse â˜†â˜†â˜†

(briefly or forever shut. Once you know one thing, please suggest an edit.)

The perfect hangout for the personal traveler with exclusive rooms, affordable dorms, and regular BBQ