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

Gay Seoul is among the planet’s the majority of underestimated travel spots, overlooked constantly because of its a lot more well-known eastern Asian neighbors. Better-known for Samsung and governmental tensions with North Korea, there clearly was a thriving queer world right here concealed right in ordinary view – you just need to understand where to search!

Fast-paced and thoroughly enthusiastic about manner and innovation, the powerful town of Seoul normally greatly old-fashioned, with tranquil palaces, temples and hill tracks. Skyscrapers overshadow elegant hanbok (old-fashioned wood homes), environmentally friendly spaces and cycle ways soften industrial difficult sides, and K-Pop are heard blaring on nearly every road place.

Seoulites have a great deal to end up being pleased with in their 24/7 area – where you are able to get whatever you decide and want, anytime – and their homosexual world is not an exception. We desire the community at-large could be a lot more acknowledging…

Southern Korea as one features a far less accepting look at the LGBTQ community than a lot of rest of Asia – even though the effectiveness of conservatives and Christian fundamentalists wanes gradually, things are nevertheless not in which they need to be.

LGBT acceptance has, however, rapidly grown in the past decade, especially in younger generations,  compliment of international influences, a lot more queer events, and a louder presence for the local LGBT area, such as –rather notoriously – celebrity
Hong Seok-cheon
, being released in public places.

Numerous in Korea believe they usually have never ever satisfied a gay individual, and it is an interest infrequently discussed, with governmental functions preventing conversation of LGBT legal rights and many men and women burying their own heads for the sand.

As a visitor, you are incredibly not likely to experience any outright discrimination but take note, lots of queer residents lead two fold physical lives and succumb towards daunting societal force to maintain their sex personal.

South Korea is without question one of the most traditional nations in Asia, but also here, it’s technically illegal to be discriminated against on such basis as sexual orientation. Nevertheless, numerous members of the LGBT area nonetheless face troubles at home and work, which means Gay Korea has quite a distance to go however to catch up with the a lot more progressive neighbors – Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and increasingly Vietnam.

The homosexual scene in Seoul, however, is growing annually and has now many fabulous queer enjoyable to offer. Foreign celebration guys trying to find combined foreign/local fun would want to head to the popular Homo Hill in Itaewon, long of gay nightlife, but residents are more likely to frequent the central area of Jongno.

Synonymous with skyscrapers, the bustle of Insadong and road barbecues, you will find in fact a hidden-in-plain-sight homosexual world right here with pubs, karaoke bones, homosexual hot rooms and cafes than we can easily count.

Very few visitors ever before endeavor to Gay Jongno but know if you are doing that from inside the taverns and groups, you certainly will be welcomed with a grin. Sadly, equivalent cannot be said for Seoul’s homosexual hot rooms and sail groups scene, which actively discriminate against and club anybody who is actually non-Korean – it doesn’t matter how acquainted with practices or the vocabulary you might be.

We hope this changes in the near future and also some suggestions that can help, in this esteem, the gay world in Seoul nevertheless very much has many developing as much as carry out.

Still, with more than 10 million individuals, Seoul is one of the most significant locations on the planet features one thing for absolutely everyone. Food, style, society, history and crazy lifestyle – this sprawling city provides almost everything!

Destinations in Seoul

Naturally, becoming gay will not establish which destinations we would like to see in each town, and the majority of queer tourists will just want to take a look at leading factors to see in Seoul through the day!

There was so much to complete right here – but we found our favorite thoughts happened to be wandering through obtaining missing on back-streets, checking out every odd cafes, hitting-up Lotte industry and wandering through design studios!

One of the best guidelines we can provide you with for checking out Gay Seoul is to pre-order a travel SIM card for simple airport collection and activation the moment you appear you will likely not pay a king’s ransom in intercontinental roaming fees.

Get restaurants advice and reservations about travel, trains and buses directions up-to-the-minute, club beginning hrs, and, when it is your thing – entry to gay hook-up apps to learn more about the local world.

Cellular phone data is fast, inexpensive and available almost everywhere in Asia, making it not surprising most people elect to stay connected and obtain off of the beaten track (without actually ever worrying about acquiring missing). Why wait?
Pre-order the most effective regional SIM credit now to own it waiting for you whenever you appear.

Nevertheless – it helps having some concept of what’s going on, thus here you will find the best activities to do in Seoul, according to united states!

Things you can do  in Seoul

Conventional Korean Bathhouse

Not into the homosexual sauna? Uncover exclusive and family-friendly an element of the Korean society in an attractively embellished and conventional Korean-style bathhouse. Unwind from a stressful day’s sightseeing – or night or partying – in a conventional oak lumber sauna, and luxuriate in entry to all hot rooms and steam rooms offering various sodium and nutrients treatment options for your epidermis.

For much more luxury, why not address yourself to a massage, facials or body scrubs? Although the bathhouse is open 24/7, make sure you book ahead of time any special treatments to prevent missing out.

Cheonggyecheon

A landmark of the latest urban renovation and ecological restoration, this playground room includes a revived / ‘day-lighted’ stream with pathways, links & greenery.

Myeong-dong

A varied purchasing & informal international dining location, the Bustling Myeong-dong is actually filled with international manner brands, deluxe malls, and homegrown beauty products retailers.

Janet’s Cooking Studio

Take-home more than simply images because of this fabulously unique industry tour and standard Korean cooking lesson with Janet, a Korean cook competed in New York City.

This knowledge is certainly not about merely ticking down vacationer must-dos, but instead explores the actual Korea through Janet’s breathtaking meals obsession – which shines through whether this woman is introducing one to vendors in another of Seoul’s couple of remaining neighborhood street marketplaces or smiling brightly while exposing for your requirements how to create an ideal Bulgogi Lettuce Wrap back the woman professional home.

Janet has also caused the UN to market Korean food and tradition – which means you just learn she’s genuine! You will keep Seoul have real profit recognize bizarre elements in a Korean market in order to whip-up some tasty standard dinners – even while researching exclusive reputation for Korea and enjoying Janet’s cozy character.

A sort and loving heart who is undoubtedly passionate about what she does, we can’t advise Janet’s Cooking Studio very enough.

Fireman Program

An extraordinary screen of acrobatics & dance, this much-acclaimed tv show utilizes a combination of performance designs expressing the stresses to be a fireman. Weird, we know, but you’ll see why if you find yourself there.

Detect amazing acrobatic pulls and flips, and read about the importance of fire security and awareness – being a non-verbal tv show, it is well-suited for several vocabulary speakers. Feel the affirmative electricity brought of the melodramatic yet comical performers that portray vivacious characters.

Bukchon Hanok Village

A beautiful history community with a proud 600-year history dating back to towards the 14th century. Fill your digital camera with selfies featuring narrow roads lined with restored standard domiciles.

Fancy Museum

a quirky museum of entertaining sensual artwork, this will be Seoul’s basic therefore far just museum for adults – but we are positive other people tend to be eagerly being planned. Enjoy sensory tales of enthusiasm and desire unfold right before the sight, get a chance to try your hand at pole dance – when you haven’t currently – and find out the different minutes of newlyweds’ existence through entertaining artworks.

You will find six-themed galleries, each with a silly appeal for you really to discover – and count on us, homosexual, right, or unicorn …You won’t have seen something like this prior to!

Lotte Community

No visit to Seoul would be complete without a trip to Korea’s leading motif playground, Lotte business! Lotte globe seats are amazingly discounted just for foreign website visitors, thus you should not skip the possiblity to see this enjoyable two-part theme playground with backyard thrill rides and a ‘Magic isle’ castle place.

During colder several months, simply take a jacket or enjoy the adrenaline-charged interior tourist attractions in the ‘Adventure’ location, plus sign up for the numerous parades and shows. When you need to do even more, there is a Lotte globe + Aquarium combo solution to also incorporates a trip to everyone’s biggest sea ecology container from the Lotte community Aquarium, featuring over 650 marine species across 13 unique areas.

Jongmyo

A UNESCO industry Heritage web site and shrine to Joseon dynasty kings & queens. Ritual ceremonies however happen during that Confucian shrine focused on Joseon dynasty royals. Nowadays Jongmyo is the ideal escape from the metropolitan hubbub and an intriguing exploring Old Seoul.

Café Onion

Serving post-industrial decay realness, this Uber-hip concept cafe in Seongdong-gu is basically the way we would picture Chornobyl to-be if Brooklyn hipsters relocated in. Serving funky baked projects and specialization coffee blends, this spot is worth the trek off to discover – if only to understand all of your current monochromatic Instagram dreams.

They even will have a very easily known as Café Onion Anguk in Jongno-gu, except in a switched traditional building/temple, which is similarly impressive.

Seoul’s Palaces, Temples & Industries

Invest every single day sightseeing and ticking off Seoul’s hottest websites. The President’s pad, Blue home (or Cheongwadae), the modifying on the protections from the dazzling Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changdeok residence and stopping by the nationwide Folk Museum for more information on Korea’s rich record through the dynasties as much as the present-day.

Also to not end up being overlooked is the calming Jogyesa Buddhist Temple and bargain-hunting at well-known Namdaemun industries.

Korea Rail Pass (KR PASS

)

Discover Southern Korea outside Seoul by traveling on over 80 paths also to over 600 channels using the Korea Rail Pass. Get unlimited rides of all Korail trains for 3 or 5 successive times or any versatile 2 and 4 days using this discount which only available for foreign nationals.

Meerkat & Friends

An oh-so-Seoul ‘cafe’ which acts no food and sole bottled products buts allows you to get up close and private with semi-tame meerkats, raccoons, wallabies, kitties, foxes and more. With locations in Hongdae and Myeongdong, it’s touristy and odd, this is exactly why we have been preoccupied!

Discover Seoul Pass

Get effortless access to an assortment of 35 leading Seoul attractions utilizing the Take a look at Seoul Pass. Pick from 24/48/72 several hours pass to delight in discounts and easily modify the Seoul excursion because of this flexible entry solution and transfer card from Seoul Tourism Organization, exclusively available to international visitors.

ZenKimchi Korean Food Tours

In case you are like all of us and planning your visit to Korea when it comes to cuisine by yourself, then you will wish to avoid the touristy locations/ poor eating experiences and decide for a completely immersive experience to make the a lot of Seoul’s meals scene.

Luckily, Joe, who has been running
Korea’s longest-running food blog, ZenKimchi,
for more than 15 years, has established a distinctively crafted concert tour to aid tourists encounter real Korean eating. Become obvious, by this, we mean he gets no kickbacks through the restaurants and goes because he could be really fanatical regarding the fare they provide, unlike less scrupulous workers…

We decided on his Korean BBQ trip together with an unforgettable evening discovering Korean eating decorum, savoring the best charcoal grilled chicken in our existence, appreciating rewarding talks with some other folks from internationally – and getting a tiny bit tipsy over a Korean liquor concept in a key pub!

It is also ideal for some pre-drinking before moving out to Homo Hill, or for solo travelers which might if not find it difficult to enjoy Korean BBQ like this.

There is numerous tours going around, but each one is operate by passionate professionals who get best interests at heart. Thus, if you wish to get-out there to check out Seoul as a local – whilst having a ridiculous amount of enjoyable, ZenKimchi Korean foods Tours has actually one thing for you.

Gay Annual Events In Seoul

Korea Queer Movie Festival (KQFF)

A yearly event in July dedicated specifically to screening gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer movies. KQFF happens to be held annually since 2001 with all the mentioned aim of motivating diversity in Korean tradition while improving LGBT individual liberties and acceptance.

The most vital Asian discussion boards of intercontinental LGBT film/video, of course, if the dates correspond if an approach to enjoy a far more advanced level of homosexual existence in Seoul.

I WILL BE Seoul

Korea’s biggest routine celebration brand, I’M established in 2015 and has fast become just about the most popular circuit activities across Asia. Today, I’M consistently entice countless homosexual tourists from across Asia in addition to world to Gay Seoul.

I WILL BE boasts 3 days of dance club events, swimming pool parties and after-parties filled with music additionally the hottest guys. You can expect an unforgettable experience with a killer DJ line-up throughout the planet and very go-go young men on-stage. Generally held in August, I’M is totally worth planning a-trip about.

Korea Queer Festival Party | Pride Parade

Korea’s largest LGBT festival, this yearly modern Korean festival, whose theme is LGBT rights, has many shows, including a pride parade, movie festival events, artwork, talks and pub party events.

The festival can last for weekly or two and in most cases occurs in belated will to early Summer. The procession that was prohibited in 2015 attracted intercontinental attention to case, with most of it being vital regarding the advancement made with regards to LGBT liberties in Southern Korea.

Once again taking place, there’s today some assistance from smaller Korean governmental parties and famous people, but significant events while the federal government at-large take a neutral posture. Unlike many
some other Pride festivals all over the world
, the Seoul Pride Prade definitely limits the capacity of attendees to just take images or films and asks photo-takers to blur individuals’ confronts before posting photos on the web.

This is accomplished to reduce the possibility of unintentional outings of participants exactly who however face significant discrimination in Korean culture. Although the organizers have actually large intentions to expand case to the biggest in Asia, Seoul’s Queer community Festival reveals in several ways, South Korea is in the rock era.

120,000 LGBT men and women openly took part in 2018 – the most significant actually – but 200,000 signatures were additionally obtained to eliminate the Parade, and a huge number of anti-LGBT protestors proved.

Still, it’s amazing observe NGOs and companies acquiring onboard while the occasion grows. In a nation where modesty around outsiders is vital and sexual choice just isn’t something to be flaunted, we are able to merely expect improved presence later on helps new generations of South Koreans feel safe adequate to end up being exactly who they’re.

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 secure to presume queer tourists are going to have no dilemmas examining basically any lodge in Seoul. Unfortunately, however, there are not any solely gay hotels in Seoul to evaluate into.

Seoul is a major international mega-city with a lack of room, so place sizes are smaller compared to just about everywhere otherwise around – but as plenty of homosexual males learn, it isn’t about size, but how you employ it! We are making reference to style, efficiency and views, darling!

With that said, every person loves to end up being enclosed by individuals with usual passions, and thus, there are a few well-known gay-friendly accommodations in Seoul which happen to be hot areas for homosexual people to remain – either for their location or their particular layout and comprehensive vibes.

Resorts near Homo Hill, the foreigner-friendly queer enclave in Itaewon, are extremely well-liked by homosexual tourists – particularly people just who only speak English but Jongno for the Nagwon-dong community, is in fact the gayest part of Seoul, though much more popular with locals than website visitors.

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

This amazing resort hotels in Gay Seoul have got all had a glowing referral from gay tourists in past times, however,
you’ll find numerous various other resort hotels in Seoul
if they are nearly what you are actually wanting.

Whether you want a great and social hostel, a cheap location to freeze after per night of partying or an ultra-chic fashion designer choice to sip cocktails and surround yourself with fabulous men and women  – Gay Seoul provides anything for all!

Gay-friendly Resorts in Itaewon

Hamilton Hotel â˜†â˜†â˜†â˜†

A landmark in Seoul’s Itaewon, this calm resort in a small redbrick building is only a minute’s stroll from the train station with unfussy spaces, no-cost Wi-Fi and helpful staff.

You rarely have to keep with eight various dinner choices, such as a sleek Italian cafe, 2 LGBT-friendly clubs, an outdoor roof swimming pool – popular with peacocking muscle tissue gays-, a 24-hour spa, a gym, and even limited mall.

Not too long ago renovated from top-to-bottom but still simply this short stumble from Homo Hill, HOMPA by Le Queen and Club HIM.

IP Boutique Resort â˜†â˜†â˜†â˜†

Located in Seoul’s cosmopolitan purchasing and activity region, Itaewon, internet protocol address Boutique Hotel, provides a new lifestyle Full description of experiences of gay friends. Featuring excellent style and magnificent atmosphere, the hotel supplies 133 guestrooms, a café restaurant, and unlimited use of their unique well-equipped physical fitness room.

Excellent importance, internet protocol address Boutique Hotel is only a short stroll towards the Always Homme homosexual club and Club HIM by Pulse, increasing its homosexual appeal.

Hotel ITW â˜†â˜†â˜†

(Temporarily or forever shut. Knowing one thing, please recommend an edit.)

On a clean, modern-day, appealing hotel in Itaewon with rates of the same quality or a lot better than other spots in Seoul. We appreciated it was within convenient taking walks range from the homosexual restaurants, bars, and stores that produce Itaewon these a pulsating and appealing section of Seoul. Resort ITAW is actually, however, up a steep slope and found on a narrow one-way street basically challenging after every night of drinking.

Sp@Itaewon Guesthouse â˜†â˜†â˜†

(Temporarily or forever closed. Once you learn one thing, kindly recommend an edit.)

The most wonderful hangout for any social tourist with personal areas, affordable dorms, and normal BBQ