The Koreas

What’s Behind South Korea’s Persistent LGBT Intolerance?

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The Koreas

What’s Behind South Korea’s Persistent LGBT Intolerance?

A recent survey explores the impact of proximity on South Korean attitudes toward LGBT individuals.

What’s Behind South Korea’s Persistent LGBT Intolerance?

Competing rallies at the Seoul Queer Culture Fest in July 2017.

Credit: Flickr/ Rachel Stine

While most developed democracies have exhibited increased tolerance toward same-sex relationships and the LGBT community more broadly, South Korea lags behind. The country does not criminalize homosexual activity, but lacks non-discrimination protection in the workplace, protection against hate crimes, and denies same-sex couples the right to marry or adopt. Legislative efforts for anti-discrimination laws have failed to pass multiple times since 2007, with greater success among 12 local governments despite conservative opposition.

What explains South Korean public opinion regarding the LGBT community?

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