As we all may know Korea is mostly a conservative country that takes really slow steps towards equality. This week the LGBTQ+ community in Korea faces one of its biggest challenges. A cluster of coronavirus cases connected to clubs frequented by South Korea’s gay community has sparked an outpouring of hate speech towards the country’s already-embattled LGBTQ population. More than 100 cases have been linked to nightlife venues in the South Korean capital, and on Saturday, Seoul ordered all clubs and bars to temporarily close. The rise in cases has raised a huge red flag in South Korea, which was among the first countries outside of China to deal with a large-scale coronavirus outbreak. In recent weeks, however, authorities had begun loosening restrictions as case numbers fell. The suggestion that the outbreak is linked to the city’s gay scene has sparked a huge backlash against the LGBTQ community, including the 29-year-old man believed to be at the center of the cluster. Local media has emphasized his sexual orientation and reported that the clubs he visited are gay venues, although the venues do not openly describe themselves as such on their official websites or social media accounts. This negative media portrayal is affecting heavily the community.
This also sparks other fears, since the portrayal inflicts anger and hatred towards the community tracking infected people may become even harder. That reaction could make contact tracing harder, with people afraid to be associated with the LGBTQ community and having their sexuality outed. People have even been giving false information just to protect themselves, this has made the government use other alternatives to track them. Using phone signal tower records, the city found that 10,905 people were in the vicinity of the clubs in the nightlife suburb of Itaewon between April 24 and May 6. Authorities have texted them all, saying they should get tested. Officials have also used credit cards to track almost 500 people, who have been asked to get tested and self-quarantine. The number of people who had been tested had nearly doubled between Sunday and Monday, after authorities began offering anonymous tests, which help people get tested without having to expose their sexuality.
It is important for people to feel safe with their sexuality and Korea has not provided that, the media has outed and putted at danger several people. This even puts their jobs and relationships at risk. South Korean authorities have urged the public not to target individuals or specific communities. Kwon said it was important to protect the personal information of those infected, and South Korean authorities have warned that leaking personal information of Covid-19 patients could also be a criminal offense. This are some good steps at-least but it is still very worrisome. South Korea has no comprehensive anti-discrimination laws to protect LGBTQ South Koreans, and compared to nearby democracies such as Japan and Taiwan, the country is less accepting of same-sex couples. It is to the point where LGBTQ soldiers serving in South Korea’s military face abuse and discrimination.
It is important to stop the hate and give more protection to the LGBTQ+ community now more than ever.
Stay Safe and Lots of Love (A)
K-Daily 