Seoul - Organizers of the Seoul Queer Culture Festival announced on Tuesday that this year's LGBTQ parade would take place near Euljiro 1-ga and Jonggak Station in downtown Seoul. The move comes after Seoul Plaza, the usual location for the event, was denied to the festival organizers for the second consecutive year.
According to Yonhap News Agency, discussions are ongoing with police to finalize the parade route for the event scheduled on June 1. This marks the second year the festival has been relocated due to the city government granting permission for other events at Seoul Plaza. Last year, a Christian group was allowed to host a youth concert there, and this year the space is reserved for the Seoul Metropolitan Library's outdoor reading events.
The festival, under the slogan "Yes Queer!" will run from May 27 to June 18. The organizing committee has expressed dissatisfaction with the city's decision-making process, citing it as exclusionary and discriminatory. They have lodged a complaint with the state human rights watchdog against Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, accusing his administration of favoring certain groups and contributing to social discord.