Drag may still be a fringe subculture in South Korea, but the scene appears to be growing.
Drag may still be a fringe subculture in South Korea, but the scene appears to be growing.
Photo by Kanghyuk Lee
Drag acts as a release in a country where conservative social attitudes remain prevalent.
Drag acts as a release in a country where conservative social attitudes remain prevalent.
Photo by Kanghyuk Lee
<a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fkuciia%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Kuciia Diamant</a> is one of the prominent drag queens bringing visibility to the community since she started performing in 2013.
Kuciia Diamant is one of the prominent drag queens bringing visibility to the community since she started performing in 2013.
Photo by Kanghyuk Lee
Most of Seoul's drag queens are based in the district of Itaewon, a diverse international neighborhood.
Most of Seoul's drag queens are based in the district of Itaewon, a diverse international neighborhood.
Photo by Kanghyuk Lee
With US troops setting up in Itaewon after the Korean War, the neighborhood gained a reputation for prostitution and nightlife.
With US troops setting up in Itaewon after the Korean War, the neighborhood gained a reputation for prostitution and nightlife.
Photo by Kanghyuk Lee
Trans and drag performers began appearing in clubs for soldiers' entertainment, and the area soon became a refuge for different kinds of "marginalized people," according to Todd Henry, a professor of modern Korean history at the University of San Diego.
Trans and drag performers began appearing in clubs for soldiers' entertainment, and the area soon became a refuge for different kinds of "marginalized people," according to Todd Henry, a professor of modern Korean history at the University of San Diego.
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Activist and drag queen Hurricane Kimchi, also known as Heezy Yang, is out to change perceptions in a country with traditionally conservative views on gender and sexuality.
Activist and drag queen Hurricane Kimchi, also known as Heezy Yang, is out to change perceptions in a country with traditionally conservative views on gender and sexuality.
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The activist's work ranges from writing a novel about his experience of coming out, to taking part in a mock gay wedding ceremony in Seoul's metro.
The activist's work ranges from writing a novel about his experience of coming out, to taking part in a mock gay wedding ceremony in Seoul's metro.
Courtesy Heezy Yang
He is also the founder of the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.seouldragparade.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Seoul Drag Parade</a>, an annual event that hopes to "encourage both queer and non-queer people to use drag to find their identity (and) express their true feelings, thoughts and style," according to its website.
He is also the founder of the Seoul Drag Parade, an annual event that hopes to "encourage both queer and non-queer people to use drag to find their identity (and) express their true feelings, thoughts and style," according to its website.
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Participation in pride events is also expanding, according to Eun-oh Yang of the Korean Sexual Minority Culture and Rights Center.
Participation in pride events is also expanding, according to Eun-oh Yang of the Korean Sexual Minority Culture and Rights Center.
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The 20th annual Seoul Queer Culture Festival in 2018 attracted over 150,000 participants.
The 20th annual Seoul Queer Culture Festival in 2018 attracted over 150,000 participants.
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"Compared to the past, drag culture exists in more diverse forms for both men and women, and now we have drag queens performing on stage at (the annual) Queer Culture Festival," said Yang.
"Compared to the past, drag culture exists in more diverse forms for both men and women, and now we have drag queens performing on stage at (the annual) Queer Culture Festival," said Yang.
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Like drag queens around the world, Hurricane Kimchi uses performance as a way to express himself, and to break "the stereotypes (of being queer) and get rid of toxic masculinity," he said.
Like drag queens around the world, Hurricane Kimchi uses performance as a way to express himself, and to break "the stereotypes (of being queer) and get rid of toxic masculinity," he said.
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Co-organizer of the Seoul Drag Parade, Ali Zahoor, said there are also uniquely Korean reasons for the growth of Seoul's drag scene -- including the "anxiety" caused by the threat of war.
Co-organizer of the Seoul Drag Parade, Ali Zahoor, said there are also uniquely Korean reasons for the growth of Seoul's drag scene -- including the "anxiety" caused by the threat of war.
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"North Korea's right there ... We are not scared, or we're not thinking about it too much, but it is in the back (of our minds)," he said. "Everyone's a little bit anxious all the time (and) I think that's where subcultures emerge."
"North Korea's right there ... We are not scared, or we're not thinking about it too much, but it is in the back (of our minds)," he said. "Everyone's a little bit anxious all the time (and) I think that's where subcultures emerge."
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There remains a pervasive "don't ask, don't tell" attitude towards gender non-conforming and LGBTQ communities in South Korea and the country does not legally recognize same-sex marriage or civil unions.
There remains a pervasive "don't ask, don't tell" attitude towards gender non-conforming and LGBTQ communities in South Korea and the country does not legally recognize same-sex marriage or civil unions.
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But the influence of pop culture is helping the drag community gain greater acceptance. Hurricane Kimchi said the arrival of Netflix in 2016, which brought shows like "RuPaul's Drag Race" to South Korea, exposed many people to drag culture for the first time.
But the influence of pop culture is helping the drag community gain greater acceptance. Hurricane Kimchi said the arrival of Netflix in 2016, which brought shows like "RuPaul's Drag Race" to South Korea, exposed many people to drag culture for the first time.
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Attitudes towards LGBTQ communities is slowly changing across the country.
Attitudes towards LGBTQ communities is slowly changing across the country.
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