Gay Seoul is one of the world’s most underestimated vacation destinations, overlooked constantly because of its much more famous eastern Asian next-door neighbors. Better known for Samsung and governmental tensions with North Korea, there is certainly a thriving queer world right here concealed in plain picture – you simply need to know where to look!

Hectic and entirely obsessed with fashion and technology, the vibrant town of Seoul can also be greatly traditional, with peaceful palaces, temples and hill tracks. Skyscrapers overshadow elegant hanbok (old-fashioned wood houses), environmentally friendly rooms and pattern routes soften commercial difficult borders, and K-Pop may be heard blaring on virtually every street corner.

Seoulites have a lot to be happy with within their 24/7 area – where you could get whatever you decide and want, anytime – and their gay world here’s not an exception. We desire the community as a whole will be a lot more taking…

South Korea as a whole has actually a far less accepting look at its LGBTQ society than all of the remainder of Asia – and while the effectiveness of conservatives and Christian fundamentalists wanes gradually, everything is however perhaps not where they should be.

LGBT recognition has actually, however, quickly cultivated prior to now decade, especially in younger years,  owing to worldwide impacts, even more queer occasions, and a higher existence of this local LGBT area, such as –rather famously – celeb
Hong Seok-cheon
, coming out in public places.

Numerous in Korea believe obtained never fulfilled a gay person, as well as being a topic not often mentioned, with governmental events staying away from discussion of LGBT liberties and lots of people burying their unique heads when you look at the mud.

As a customer, you will be incredibly not likely to have any straight-out discrimination but realize, numerous queer residents lead double lives and succumb toward intimidating societal stress to keep their sex private.

South Korea is without question one of the most traditional nations in Asia, but actually right here, its officially illegal as discriminated against on the basis of intimate direction. Nevertheless, lots of members of the LGBT society nonetheless face difficulties home and work, which means Gay Korea features a long way to visit nevertheless to capture up with its more modern neighbors – Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and more and more Vietnam.

The homosexual scene in Seoul, but is continuing to grow annually and has an abundance of fantastic queer enjoyable available. Global celebration males trying to find mixed foreign/local fun may wish to check out the popular Homo Hill in Itaewon, long associated with homosexual nightlife, but natives are more likely to constant the central area of Jongno.

Just skyscrapers, the bustle of Insadong and road barbecues, there clearly was actually a hidden-in-plain-sight homosexual scene right here with taverns, karaoke joints, homosexual hot rooms and cafes than we could depend.

Not so many visitors ever enterprise to Gay Jongno but determine if you are doing that inside the pubs and organizations, could be welcomed with a grin. Unfortunately, exactly the same cannot be said for Seoul’s gay hot rooms and sail groups scene, which earnestly discriminate against and bar anyone who is actually non-Korean – regardless of what acquainted traditions or the language you are.

We hope this alterations in the long run and have now some suggestions that might help, however in this regard, the gay world in Seoul however quite has many developing up to carry out.

However, with more than 10 million men and women, Seoul is one of the biggest metropolitan areas on Earth and it has something for absolutely everyone. Food, layout, culture, history and wild nightlife – this sprawling metropolis features it-all!

Tourist attractions in Seoul

Naturally, becoming gay doesn’t determine which attractions many of us will want to see in each urban area, and the majority of queer people will simply wanna check out the leading things to see in Seoul during the day!

There was much doing right here – but we discovered the most popular memories were wandering through getting lost on back-streets, checking out all unusual cafes, hitting-up Lotte World and roaming through style studios!

One of the best ideas we are able to offer you for exploring Gay Seoul is to pre-order a travel SIM credit for easy airport collection and activation as soon as you arrive you will likely not spend a lot of money in worldwide roaming costs.

Get restaurants suggestion and reservations about travel, public transport directions up to the minute, club beginning hours, and, if it is your thing – use of gay hook-up software for more information regarding local scene.

Cellular phone information is quickly, cheap and offered all over the place in Asia, so it is not surprising that most tourists decide to remain linked to get off of the beaten track (without actually fretting about obtaining missing). So why wait?
Pre-order the very best neighborhood SIM card now to have it available when you arrive.

Nonetheless – it assists to possess some thought of the proceedings, therefore here you will find the most readily useful activities to do in Seoul, according to us!

Activities to do  in Seoul

Standard Korean Bathhouse

Perhaps not inside gay spa? Uncover a distinctive and family-friendly the main Korean tradition in an attractively adorned and standard Korean-style bathhouse. Unwind from a tense day of sightseeing – or evening or partying – in a normal pine lumber sauna, and enjoy accessibility all hot rooms and steam rooms offering various sodium and minerals remedies for your epidermis.

For more lavishness, why not treat you to ultimately a massage, facials or body scrubs? Even though the bathhouse is actually open 24/7, definitely book ahead any special treatment plans to avoid at a disadvantage.

Cheonggyecheon

A landmark of the latest metropolitan renovation and ecological rejuvenation, this playground area includes a revived / ‘day-lighted’ stream with walkways, bridges & greenery.

Myeong-dong

A varied purchasing & everyday international eating destination, the busy Myeong-dong is actually packed with international fashion companies, luxury department stores, and homegrown cosmetics shops.

Janet’s Preparing Studio

Take home more than simply photographs with this particular fabulously unique industry trip and conventional Korean cooking concept with Janet, a Korean chef competed in nyc.

This experience is certainly not about simply ticking down tourist must-dos, but alternatively explores the true Korea through Janet’s stunning meals obsession – which stands out through whether she is introducing one to sellers in another of Seoul’s few staying neighborhood street markets or smiling brightly while revealing for you how to create the perfect Bulgogi Lettuce Wrap in the woman expert kitchen area.

Janet has even caused the UN to market Korean food and society – so you just know she actually is genuine! You will leave Seoul having the ability to identify strange materials in a Korean market and to whip-up some delicious traditional dinners – all the while understanding the unique reputation of Korea and enjoying Janet’s warm character.

A form and enjoying soul that is undoubtedly excited about exactly what she really does, we cannot recommend Janet’s preparing Studio very sufficient.

Fireman Program

An extraordinary display of acrobatics & party, this much-acclaimed tv show uses a combination of overall performance designs to state the strains of being a fireman. Crazy, we understand, however you will realise why if you’re truth be told there.

Monitor remarkable acrobatic lifts and flips, and learn about the necessity of fire safety and awareness – and being a non-verbal program, it’s well-suited for all language speakers. Feel the affirmative electricity produced by melodramatic yet funny performers that portray lively figures.

Bukchon Hanok Village

A beautiful history town with a pleased 600-year background going back toward 14th 100 years. Fill the camera with selfies featuring slim streets lined with restored conventional domiciles.

Appreciate Museum

a quirky art gallery of entertaining erotic art, this really is Seoul’s first therefore far merely museum for adults – but we have been yes other people tend to be eagerly becoming in the offing. View sensory tales of passion and need unfold before your vision, get an opportunity to attempt your own hand at pole dancing – when you haven’t currently – and see different moments of newlyweds’ existence through entertaining artworks.

You can find six-themed galleries, each with a silly destination for you yourself to find – and trust united states, homosexual, right, or unicorn …You won’t ever have observed everything in this way prior to!

Lotte Community

No trip to Seoul would-be comprehensive without a visit to Korea’s leading motif park, Lotte industry! Lotte community tickets tend to be amazingly discounted just for foreign website visitors, therefore you should not miss the chance to check out this enjoyable two-part motif park with outside adventure trips and a ‘Magic isle’ palace place.

Throughout colder months, simply take a coat or have fun with the adrenaline-charged indoor tourist attractions when you look at the ‘Adventure’ place, plus sign up for the various parades and shows. When you need to do more, there was a Lotte industry + Aquarium combination violation to comes with a call to the world’s biggest ocean environment tank on Lotte community Aquarium, showcasing over 650 marine species across 13 unique zones.

Jongmyo

A UNESCO World history site and shrine to Joseon dynasty leaders & queens. Ritual ceremonies however happen only at that Confucian shrine dedicated to Joseon dynasty royals. Now 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 design cafe in Seongdong-gu is actually how we would picture Chornobyl as if Brooklyn hipsters relocated in. Serving cool baked projects and specialization coffee combinations, this place is worth the trip out to discover – only if to appreciate your monochromatic Instagram fantasies.

They also are in possession of a far more conveniently called Café Onion Anguk in Jongno-gu, except in a transformed conventional building/temple, which can be equally impressive.

Seoul’s Palaces, Temples & Industries

Invest each day sightseeing and ticking off Seoul’s most well known sites. The chairman’s pad, Blue residence (or Cheongwadae), the changing of this protections at the magnificent Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changdeok Palace and stopping by the nationwide Folk Museum to learn more about Korea’s wealthy record through the dynasties around the present-day.

Also not to end up being overlooked may be the soothing Jogyesa Buddhist Temple and bargain hunting from the famous Namdaemun industries.

Korea Rail Pass (KR PASS

)

Take a look at South Korea outside of Seoul by traveling on over 80 tracks also to over 600 programs with the Korea Rail Pass. Get limitless rides of many Korail trains for 3 or 5 consecutive days or any flexible 2 and 4 days using this rebate that is only available for international nationals.

Meerkat & pals

An oh-so-Seoul ‘cafe’ which serves no as well as only bottled beverages buts enables you to get up close and personal with semi-tame meerkats, raccoons, wallabies, cats, foxes and more. With locations in Hongdae and Myeongdong, it is touristy and strange, and that’s why the audience is preoccupied!

Discover Seoul Pass

Get effortless access to an assortment of 35 leading Seoul tourist attractions together with the find Seoul Pass. Pick from 24/48/72 hrs pass to appreciate discounts and easily modify the Seoul travel with this particular versatile entrance solution and transportation credit from Seoul Tourism company, specifically accessible to foreign visitors.

ZenKimchi Korean Foods Tours

If you should be like united states and planning your trip to Korea for your food alone, then you will need to avoid the touristy areas/ poor dining encounters and pick a completely immersive experience to help make the nearly all of Seoul’s meals scene.

Fortunately, Joe, who has been running
Korea’s longest-running food blog site, ZenKimchi,
for over fifteen years, has established an exclusively crafted concert tour to simply help people encounter real Korean eating. Becoming clear, from this, we mean the guy becomes no kickbacks from the restaurants and takes you because he is really fanatical regarding the food they provide, unlike less scrupulous operators…

We plumped for his Korean BBQ tour and had an unforgettable night finding Korean eating decorum, savoring ideal charcoal grilled chicken of one’s life, admiring fulfilling conversations with different individuals from around the globe – and receiving a little tipsy over a Korean alcoholic beverages lesson in a secret club!

It’s also ideal for some pre-drinking before moving out to Homo Hill, or solo tourists whom might usually find it difficult to enjoy Korean BBQ like this.

There was many tours on offer, but each one is operate by passionate experts who get desires at heart. Very, if you want to move out here and discover Seoul as a regional – while having a ridiculous quantity of enjoyable, ZenKimchi Korean foods Tours features anything for you.

Gay Annual Events In Seoul

Korea Queer Film Festival (KQFF)

A yearly event in July dedicated entirely to assessment homosexual, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer films. KQFF has-been held yearly since 2001 together with the mentioned goal of encouraging variety in Korean society while enhancing LGBT person legal rights and acceptance.

Very important Asian message boards of intercontinental LGBT film/video, and in case the dates correspond if an approach to encounter an even more innovative amount of homosexual existence in Seoul.

IM Seoul

Korea’s biggest routine party brand, IM launched in 2015 and has now quickly be probably the most prominent routine activities across Asia. Today, IM consistently entice hundreds of gay people from across Asia and entire world to Gay Seoul.

IM carries 3 days of pub parties, swimming pool parties and after-parties full of songs while the hottest guys. You may expect an unforgettable experience with a killer DJ line-up from all around worldwide and extremely go-go guys on stage. Generally held in August, I AM is totally worth planning a vacation around.

Korea Queer Festival Party | Pride Parade

Korea’s biggest LGBT festival, this yearly contemporary Korean festival, whoever theme is actually LGBT liberties, has its own highlights, such as a pride parade, film festival occasions, art, conversations and pub party events.

The event lasts for a week or two and usually occurs in later part of the will to very early June. The parade that was prohibited in 2015 lured international awareness of case, with most of it getting important of this development made relating to LGBT liberties in Southern Korea.

Yet again occurring, there is certainly now some help from smaller Korean political events and celebrities, but major parties therefore the government as a whole take a natural stance. Unlike many
some other Pride celebrations around the globe
, the Seoul Pride Prade definitely restricts the ability of attendees to just take pictures or videos and asks photo-takers to blur players’ confronts before publishing pictures on the web.

This is accomplished to decrease the chance of unintentional trips of players exactly who still face considerable discrimination in Korean culture. Whilst the organizers have large intends to expand the big event for the biggest in Asia, Seoul’s Queer customs Festival demonstrates in lots of ways, Southern Korea is in the Stone era.

120,000 LGBT folks openly participated in 2018 – the largest actually ever – but 200,000 signatures were also collected to eliminate the Parade, and a huge number of anti-LGBT protestors proved.

Nonetheless, it is incredible observe NGOs and brand names obtaining up to speed just like the occasion increases. In a country in which modesty around outsiders is paramount and sexual choice just isn’t something to be flaunted, we are able to merely wish increased presence someday assists brand new years of South Koreans feel safe enough to be just who they truly are.

Gay-Friendly and Gay Resorts in Seoul

Although Korea and Seoul can be less politically modern and gay-friendly than, say,
Bangkok
,
Tokyo
or
Taipei
, it is still secure to presume queer travelers are going to have no dilemmas examining essentially any resort in Seoul. Unfortunately, but there aren’t any specifically homosexual places in Seoul to check on into.

Seoul is actually a worldwide mega-city with a lack of room, so space sizes tend to be smaller than almost everywhere more in this field – but as numerous homosexual males understand, it is not about size, but how you employ it! We’re discussing layout, functionality and views, darling!

With that said, everyone wants to end up being enclosed by people who have common interests, and thus, there are some well-known gay-friendly resort hotels in Seoul being hot areas for gay people to remain – either for their location or their design and comprehensive vibes.

Hotels near Homo Hill, the foreigner-friendly queer enclave in Itaewon, are really popular with homosexual tourists – especially travelers which just communicate English but Jongno when you look at the Nagwon-dong community, is truly the gayest part of Seoul, though more popular with natives than site visitors.

You could also start thinking about staying in the tourist-popular Myeongdong / Seoul main, often said to be the center of Seoul or even in the world-famous Gangnam district, a.k.a the ‘Beverly Hills of Seoul.’

Here motels in Gay Seoul have all had a glowing advice from homosexual people prior to now, but of course,
discover numerous other hotels in Seoul
if these are generally not exactly what you’re wanting.

Whether you desire a great and social hostel, an affordable place to crash after per night of partying or an ultra-chic fashion designer choice to sip cocktails and encompass yourself with fantastic individuals  – Gay Seoul has actually some thing for everyone!

Gay-friendly Resorts in Itaewon

Hamilton Resort â˜†â˜†â˜†â˜†

A landmark in Seoul’s Itaewon, this relaxed hotel in a moderate redbrick building is only one minute’s walk through the train place with unfussy spaces, no-cost Wi-Fi and helpful team.

You hardly ever should leave with eight various dining possibilities, including a shiny Italian restaurant, 2 LGBT-friendly clubs, a patio rooftop swimming pool – well-liked by peacocking muscle mass gays-, a 24-hour sauna, a gym, and even a little shopping mall.

Not too long ago renovated from top-to-bottom nonetheless only a brief stumble from Homo Hill, HOMPA by Le Queen and Club HIM.

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

Based in Seoul’s cosmopolitan shopping and enjoyment region, Itaewon, IP Boutique resort, gift suggestions a brand new lifestyle experience for homosexual visitors. Featuring excellent style and magnificent atmosphere, the hotel supplies 133 guestrooms, a café bistro, and unlimited usage of their unique well equipped physical fitness room.

Exemplary importance, IP Boutique resort is just a brief stroll on the Always Homme homosexual bar and Club HIM by Pulse, increasing its homosexual popularity.

Resort ITW â˜†â˜†â˜†

(briefly or once and for all shut. If you know one thing, please advise an edit.)

A clean, modern-day, appealing hotel in Itaewon with rates of the same quality or a lot better than almost every other locations in Seoul. We cherished it absolutely was within convenient walking range of the gay restaurants, bars, and retailers which make Itaewon these types of a pulsating and appealing section of Seoul. Hotel ITAW is actually, however, up a steep slope and found on a narrow one-way road which is challenging after a night of drinking.

Sp@Itaewon Guesthouse â˜†â˜†â˜†

(Temporarily or once and for all closed. If you know something, please recommend an edit.)

The most wonderful hangout when it comes to personal tourist with personal spaces, affordable dorms, and normal BBQ