Korean woman's love story ends in acceptance

Kim Gyu-jin, a 28-year-old office worker in South Korea, uvpeTX9XXvXwr8&VnG+4z3(T)=_ggrPCHq1-1^vBgLnstUdMU6recently received her company’s official congratulations and support for her same-sex wedding.

It is a rare example of support for LGBT relationships in South Korea, where rights activists warn the country is pIurgFlwtj63WJ3JH^J%3#(s=Nl+7Dz$vkcNi2rYMV9&2upM9Rbecoming less accepting of LGBT people.

Kim shared details of her beach weddAgs*razwY0dIE8zP42c^mTsMdJMeir0u1AV#Ag8qRyJNuH^M%Aing and what her colleagues’ acceptance meant to her on her personal blog.

“I consulted with my team leader and senZI4*[email protected]+(h8ix%24U1Jse^[email protected](Ck7^Up+%uhe-gt an e-mail to the HR team”, she explained. “I was nervous.”

But, the reply she received was “happy marriage”. She said the om3ag=s1#8N8$2yvR_q&Q=LjXZNBQNCEKX+GoUl3&i$rb_AbN#Gnly official documented needed was a wedding invitation.

The pair GB0$BWeqAA2oNz9^=(fsKKJKCl%MAIn1lytqK%+1lo8G2taB0vofficially married in New York. She said she chose the USA as they do not require citizenship or resident permits.

The certificate is, however, “useless” in South Korea, she expli)-(C!-EVz5_j3=36msIhyrr+xL-q(cpsE7o(8HzJ1PmzDW+GPains. The country does not permit same-sex marriage or recognize foreign unions.

Kim also explained h7dJpVA)cHlltK4nAf)[email protected]%7q$GErD8D7qx*[email protected]ow moved she was other people’s acceptance. 

She hasw5HI=##==W90u=V4p5WDZI&SJigk*2)J!C(KaJ_AS#U_X0_9Zi been out at work for the last two years and dreams of being an LGBT CEO like Apple’s Tim Cook. “I want to give LGBT people visibility and influence society”, she wrote.

Homosexuality is l)pauF^+f_=8G9bXuAMzb+Bgan1UIFLo_j$87T&3tSl9ts*5VI4egal in South Korea. But conservative attitudes, especially among Christians, force many LGBTI Koreans to live in the closet.

A 2017 Korean Gallup Daily Opinion poll reported 66% of 19-29 year-olds supported same-sex marriage, but 76% of those over 60 opposed X6NKENEh([email protected])^QAXP$%7W2#YC576O+LuE-WC6MffZit.

There is currently no discrimination legislation to protect LGBTI Koreans. Protests against LGBTI events, usually led by conservative Christians, havv(-(Rsil3R1cvvz1BFB&56)qx5%wXIHcQNXi!De(4LTw71wIK)e become increasingly loud and violent.

What’s more, South Korea has ignored calls fr[email protected]!49FBxIG4knzORdu8%nDOjP$-M#ZRZTtH5_FsZRR4om international rights groups to end its anti-gay law for soldiers in the military.

In 2017, the law made headlines after it emerged a senior general used g[email protected]@@iM6Hj4wE0gxl#$RmMsth&(xJ)NS9p-p^GTay dating apps to ensnare soldiers. His so-called ‘gay witch hunt’ reportedly revealed 50 soldiers.

(Photos: Kim Gyu-jin's Naver blog)