Seoul Queer Festival Sparks Large Rallies And Traffic Chaos

On June 14, 2025, Seoul became the epicenter of a series of large-scale rallies and festivals that brought both vibrant celebration and significant disruption to the city's daily rhythm. The 26th Seoul Queer Culture Festival, a major annual event for sexual minorities, unfolded amid intense heat, with temperatures soaring above 30 degrees Celsius. Thousands gathered to celebrate diversity, while counter-protests and other civic demonstrations added to the bustling street scenes and complicated traffic conditions.

The Seoul Queer Culture Festival was a colorful and spirited affair, held between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. along the stretch from Euljiro 1-ga Station to Jonggak Station. Participants adorned themselves with rainbow flags and tattoo stickers, symbols of pride and solidarity within the LGBTQ+ community. The festival featured about 70 booths, including representation from sexual minority organizations, embassies from the United Kingdom, France, and Canada, and university LGBTQ+ clubs from Hanyang University, Yonsei University, and Kyung Hee University. Civic groups such as the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the Korean Federation of Press Unions, Lawyers for a Democratic Society, and various farmers' associations also took part, highlighting a broad coalition of support.

Among the notable attendees was Kwon Young-guk, representative of the Progressive Party, who had campaigned on promises including the legalization of same-sex marriage. The parade portion of the festival commenced at 4 p.m. from Jonggak Station's Exit 5, winding its way past Myeongdong Cathedral and Seoul Plaza before concluding near Euljiro 1-ga Station at Exit 2. The event drew an estimated 30,000 participants, underscoring its significance in the city's cultural calendar.

However, the festivities were met with opposition. The Christian group "Holy Breakwater" organized a counter-protest starting at 1 p.m. in front of the Seoul City Council in Jung-gu, with about 30,000 people rallying against the festival and the proposed anti-discrimination laws. Their march headed toward Tongil-ro, expressing strong dissent against the Queer Festival's messages and demands. This opposition was mirrored in other parts of the city, where additional rallies and commemorations took place, including teacher unions mourning a recently deceased middle school teacher and demonstrations condemning international conflicts.

The convergence of these events led to significant traffic congestion across Seoul. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency had anticipated the disruption and prepared accordingly. They deployed over 310 traffic officers and operated variable lanes to maintain north-south and east-west traffic flow as much as possible. Despite these efforts, the presence of multiple large gatherings—ranging from the Queer Festival and its counter-protests to other civic assemblies in Seocho-daero, Banpo-daero, Sajik-ro, and near the Presidential Office in Yongsan—created widespread challenges for commuters.

Police urged citizens to use public transportation, especially the subway, to avoid delays and check traffic updates through official channels such as the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's hotline, website, and KakaoTalk service. The goal was to minimize inconvenience while respecting the right to assemble and express diverse views.

Adding a public health dimension to the festival, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) participated for the first time with a booth (#39) dedicated to AIDS prevention and HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Their presence aimed to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, distribute educational materials, offer on-site consultations, and promote testing and prevention programs.

Annually, South Korea sees about 1,000 new HIV infections, predominantly among young people and foreigners. The KDCA has set a target to halve new infections by 2030 under its '2nd HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management Plan (2024-2028)'. To achieve this, the agency offers support services including financial assistance for treatment, covering 50% of medical costs for confirmed HIV-positive Koreans and registered foreigners, with the remainder funded by local governments. The KDCA's participation in the festival was an internal decision aimed at reaching the young demographic that heavily participates in such events.

Despite this, the KDCA's involvement sparked controversy. Jo Young-gil, chairman of a specialized committee, criticized the agency for supporting an event he claimed promotes AIDS spread. He argued that the KDCA should instead participate in rallies opposing the Queer Festival to highlight the health risks associated with homosexuality. He warned of potential public backlash if the agency continued its involvement with the festival.

Responding to criticism, a KDCA official clarified that their participation was not targeted solely at gay men but aimed at all at-risk groups, including women and young people. The official emphasized that many remain unaware of available prevention and treatment resources, and the agency's priority was to actively promote HIV prevention to meet its public health goals.

The Seoul Queer Culture Festival concluded with a closing concert near Jonggak Station after the parade and booth events. Meanwhile, the counter-protests and other rallies wrapped up later in the evening, leaving behind a cityscape marked by both celebration and contention.

This day in Seoul highlighted not only the vibrant cultural expression of the LGBTQ+ community but also the deep societal divisions and ongoing debates around rights, health, and public policy. As the city navigates these complex issues, the balancing act between public order, freedom of expression, and health promotion remains a delicate one.