Rain or shine, Seoul Drag Parade glitters in gold – The Korea Times

No amount of rain could dull the sparkle of the kings and queens of the Seoul Drag Parade, who graced the streets of central Seoul’s multicultural Itaewon and Haebangchon neighborhoods, Friday, aiming to show the world the charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent of Korea’s queer community.

Gathered outside the small neon sign that marked Haebangchon’s Rabbithole Arcade Pub, a home for many in Seoul’s LGBTQ+ community, were drag artists of all walks of life: queens draped in elaborate, bedazzled costumes and multicolored tulle, alongside kings who donned fierce statement pieces. Behind them were young queer people wearing Pride flags, carrying signs that declared their gender identity and expression loud and proud.

Against the usual neutral-toned backdrop of Seoul were these exuberant declarations of identity, flamboyant and fearless, buzzing with excitement as they sought to step out of the shadows and into the spotlight. “We don’t want [drag] to be hidden away and just tolerated on the fringes. It deserves to be a part of the everyday cultural landscape,” Seoul Drag Parade co-founder Ali Zahoor, also known in drag as Ali Vera, told The Korea Times.

As if by fate, the light rain stopped right before 4 p.m. when the parade was to begin, giving way to the queens and their quest to be seen.

Heralding the march were Seoul Drag Parade co-founders Hurricane Kimchi and Ali Vera, alongside drag queens like Seraphim, who donned weather-ready boots and a metallic dress inspired by the Vocaloid icon Hatsune Miku.

“Drag is the truest expression of gayness possible,” she joked, her enthusiasm infectious. In 2022, Seraphim, who used to be a pro wrestler, found a family in Seoul’s growing drag community.

“There’s nothing like being able to talk to somebody, and they understand exactly what you’re going through, especially in the paradigm of gender and sexuality, and of being Black and queer. Here, I found people going through the same thing,” Seraphim told The Korea Times. Korea’s queer community

Since its first march in 2018, the Seoul Drag Parade continues its advocacy to bring the art of drag, and in turn Korea’s LGBTQ+ community, to the forefront.

“The laws and political atmosphere are very conservative [in Korea] for a country that’s supposed to be technologically developed, international and globally popular,” said Hurricane Kimchi, one of Korea’s most prominent queer activists. “I couldn’t have made it through numerous challenges and difficult times without the supportive friends and safe spaces I had, while I was navigating who I was and where I belonged when I was younger.”

Aiming to provide support and safe spaces to Korea’s often-ignored sexual minorities, the Seoul Drag Parade continues to champion queerness and the rights of the LGBTQ+ community through its array of activities such as craft markets and film screenings.

The event is held annually during October, in time for autumn holidays including Halloween and Chuseok, one of Korea’s major holidays. This is the second time the parade also coincides with National Foundation Day, which celebrates the formation of the first Korean state of Gojoseon.

Hurricane Kimchi chose to don a glittery black hanbok with gold detailing and striking traditional Korean norigae earrings to showcase Korean culture.

“A lot of anti-LGBTQ+ people and groups say Korea didn’t have queer and trans people, and these ideas and concepts came from the West, which isn’t true,” Hurricane Kimchi told The Korea Times. “[On National Foundation Day,] we can sort of protest and say, ‘Well, we LGBTQ+ people are part of the foundation of this country, too.’”

‘Itaewon Freedom’

Escorted by police officers in neon green and blue uniforms, the rainbow flags of Seoul Drag Parade stood out in the busy streets and alleys of Itaewon and Haebangchon. The parade softly sang to beloved LGBTQ+ hits like Chappell Roan’s “HOT TO GO,” as they marched past cars and onlookers, waving their signs and slogans. Up front, some queens even jammed to “Golden,” the chart-topping hit from Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” that partly inspired this year’s parade theme.

Spectators would bust out their phones to take photos, while some whispered to each other as they recognized the rainbow-colored flags. Some would ogle and point, while others would holler at the artists.

“Ladies, looking good!” said one man, who was met with a chorus of cheers and confident poses. From atop one building, a man at a bar waved his own Pride flag, making sure the queens and kings marching knew they had his support. “Itaewon is one of the main hubs of queer culture in Seoul, so we get to enjoy that Itaewon Freedom,” Ali Vera said. “We’re lucky to be the only parade of our kind in Yongsan District. It’s far more tolerant [compared to downtown Seoul], so we don’t get as much hate and opposition as the Seoul Queer Culture Festival.”

For Hurricane Kimchi, the reactions from the crowd, positive or not, were all part of the plan.

“While some people were looking at us and were shocked, it’s a natural response if you are just confused and don’t know what [drag] is,” she said. “I see that as something positive. If they like it and become familiar with it, then that’s how change starts. Going from being [invisible] to being seen, that’s the first step toward change.”

Responsibility to community

For Luna Jones, a newly debuted drag artist, participating in the parade was a responsibility to her community.

“It’s important to represent our community and stand up for our rights as human beings,” Jones said, as she joined the march in her wheelchair, decorated in flags representing the LGBTQ+ community.

“The reason why I felt like I’ve been able to survive here in Korea is because of the queer community. Without it, there’s no way I could feel the motivation to go on,” Jones said. “As a disabled person, I deal with a lot of mistreatment, and the queer community has been the most supportive, understanding and sensitive to my needs.”

Seoul Drag Parade was a chance for allies, seasoned and rookie drag artists and LGBTQ+ community members to come together as a community and support each other in the heart of Seoul. “Korea’s political and social context is what keeps us motivated to continue Seoul Drag Parade every year. It’s seeing young — and old — people find a space they feel safe enough to express themselves,” Ali Vera said. “And we want to be a part of the movement that gets Korea closer to marriage equality, decriminalization of homosexuality in the military and an anti-discrimination law.”

This year, Seoul Drag Parade collaborated with trans rights organization Jogakbo, HIV/AIDS prevention center iSHAP and the Seoul Queer Culture Festival, in a show of solidarity and support.

“I’m really happy with the turnout,” Hurricane Kimchi said. “Drag artists were having fun, saying hi and hellos, and the people who marched liked being part of this community — either through showing support as an ally and being a proud LGBTQ+ person. It meant something to them.”

For Ali Vera, the Seoul Drag Parade prides itself on being a safe space to celebrate the art of drag, regardless of gender, sexuality, race and even MBTI.

“We want drag to be understood not just as entertainment, but as an act of resistance, of self-making, of joy and of community,” Ali Vera said.

For the rest of October, the Seoul Drag Parade will continue its festivities. On Oct. 11, queer cinema film screenings will be held at Uplift Seoul in Gyeongnidan, in partnership with media company Matchbox, which has produced many LGBTQ+ themed films.

Rabbithole Arcade Pub will also host a Halloween daytime drag show, Oct. 12, while the festivities are set to step out of Itaewon and wrap up with a Halloween Edition Drag Show on Oct. 17 at Queen Dumb club in Mapo District’s hip Hongdae neighborhood.

“It’s a Halloween event, so people can dress up. And that’s part of what drag is, and we have common ground and it overlaps perfectly,” Hurricane Kimchi said.