Obtuse Angulation: Korean Media Stigmatizes the LGBTQ+ Community in the Midst of a Pandemic

Written by: Nandiinii Gupta
​
​South Korea had become one of the fastest countries to control the spread of COVID-19 in the
region. The novel technological and scientific proficiency is certainly admirable.

However in light of recent events, it turns out that the country might be running the risk of a wide spread infection again, as a 29 year-old man living in Yongin tested positive for the virus.

He had been clubbing in Itaewon, the party district of the capital city Seoul and is suspected to have infected at least 1500 people. The alarm was raised as it was the first local infection in four days. Although the Korean government has taken quick action and is still working on identifying potential cases, the problem arises due to the social stigma and prejudice surrounding the LGBTQ+ community in South Korea. Modern advancements have done little to liberalize the conservative society and although homosexuality and homosexual relations are not illegal, the collective mindset of the Korean netizens and citizens alike is enough to ensure prevailing prejudice against the community.

This angle comes into play because the patient, has been identified as a gay man, and he had
reportedly visited four clubs- gay clubs- in the Itaewon district.

Incidentally, Itaewon is also known as the capital’s gay district. This sparked headlines in Korean media full of hate speech and homophobic sentiments, beginning with a newspaper that was run by a Protestant church. The emphasis laid on “gay clubs” being the epicenter of the potential second wave has undoubtedly shifted the focus from what is actually important and relevant at this time.

To emphasize a community at such a time is to potentially hold them accountable for the
consequences. However, this is a clear distortion of the truth. A person’s sexuality does not define their actions any more than it justifies them. The homophobic sentiments that have arisen in the country more severely than before serves as detrimental to the condition of the country itself:

It is leading to more and more members of the LGBTQ+ community to closet themselves and is discouraging them to test for the infection.

The attitude of the society towards sexual preferences is also proving to be destructive for the
community as a whole. They are afraid to test, as the risk of outing themselves seems far more threatening than the contraction of the virus. Many of them are practicing to come off as “straight” to reduce the risk of social stigma and prejudice that threatens to ruin their lives. They believe that they cannot come out of the closet because chances are, they could potentially lose their jobs, their wages and their dignity. The government however, has been more than tolerable towards them.

Therapists and counsellors are being provided to encourage more members to come out and test for the virus, as they hopefully ensure security of dignity and lifestyle.
​
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said during a Sunday briefing that it it’s not helpful to single out a certain community in terms of disease prevention. Which is true. This kind of discriminatory behavior will only lead to deeper entrenchment of unjustified hate and homophobia, validation of bigoted stigmatization of members of the LGBTQ+ community and lead to failed society.

In the end, one can only hope to cull these attitudes by promoting the truth. It is very easy for
common man to fall prey to distortions projected by media. It is important to look into the facts and check for oneself the entire story, and not move on blind faith alone especially when it comes to the degradation and disrespect of an entire community- prioritizing human rights over personal beliefs is an effort the world must be willing to make.