Seoul Queer Culture Festival
& Pride Parade 2023

Seoul Queer Culture Festival & Pride Parade 2023

The Seoul Queer Culture Festival is a two week event of culture, parades, parties and political activism taking place in the South Korean capital.

• Visiting for Seoul Pride? Stay in the Itaewon district, close to all the city’s best gay bars and clubs. 

2023 Update

• The organizers of South Korea’s biggest Pride parade are vowing to press ahead with their event, even after the Seoul Metropolitan Government denied them permission to use the central plaza where the celebration is usually held, citing a scheduling clash.
• The festival will not be stopped and [will] go ahead on July 1,” said Yang Sun-woo, head of the organizing committee for Seoul Queer Culture Festival.
• We await an update (reporting Washington Post)

Seoul Queer Pride Parade

• July 1st 2023 – The highlight of the event is the Seoul Queer Parade (SQP), held on the last Saturday of the celebrations, where tens of thousands of people parade through central Seoul in Korea’s biggest pride parade.
• The Seoul Queer Parade begins at the Seoul Plaza in front of the City Hall subway station and makes its way along Sejong-daero Road between Seoul City Hall and Gwanghwamun Square.

Seoul Pride After Parties

• After the parade most of the gay parties and events continue at Itaewon’s Homo Hill. Homo Hill is closest to the Itaewon Station Exit 2, about a 5 minute walk after turning right off the main street.

Korea Queer Film Festival

• The annual Korea Queer Film Festival also takes place during the festival with the aim of increasing the diversity in Korean films and the human rights of LGBTQ+ people and to give insight into queer culture.

Where to stay during Seoul Pride

The following Seoul hotels are currently trending with our readers. All are close to the pride festivities:

Imperial Palace   The Westin,   Hamilton Hotel,    Sejong Hotel