Discrimination Despite Changes in Time and Attitude - Report Example

Hong Seok-cheon In certain cultures and societies, openly talking about sex is often forbidden. The of sex is often considered taboo among the older generations in societies that have not fully embraced the concept of openly discussing the fundamentals that surround sex (Cho 1). Homosexuality is one subject that still brings about controversy, especially when trying to make people understand that this may not be a lifestyle choice. The fundamentals and foundations of such societies make it difficult for people to accept the difference that exists among them, hence; the bias, prejudice, and rejection of those who go ‘astray’. This paper will take a look at the life of a gay individual in a society that is yet to come to terms with the fact that homosexuality exists, and how life may have changed after the individual chose to reveal that he was gay. The ‘coming out’ for Hong Seok-cheon For the older generations, it may be hard to convince them about one’s desire to be interested in people of the same sex. Even as times change, there are societies that still hold on to the firm belief that people are always capable of making choices about how they opt to live their lives, with regards to their sexual partners. Whenever individuals in any given society choose to announce that they are gay, it is often said that they are ‘coming out’. For Hong Seok-cheon, his ‘coming out’ statement may have been one that was both unintentional and intentional (Cho 1). During a talk show where he was a guest, the host chose to ask Hong whether he was interested in people of the same sex. To the shock and amazement of both the host and his audience, Hong said yes. He chose to do this, because he felt that he could no longer hide or lie about the fact that he did like people of the same sex. Being born in a small countryside, most of the people did not understand or comprehend the nature of homosexuality. Hong Seok-cheon and his family were now in a tight spot as everybody was trying to have a say in the way he led his life. Being an actor, a member of a TV show, and even a host of radio show, Hong took South Korea by storm. It was the first time that a celebrity had come out to openly say that he liked people of the same sex. It only took one day for Hong to lose everything. His job, his TV drama role, and even his radio shows were pulled, which meant that the news of him being a homosexual was negatively received by the larger part of the media organization that opted to save itself from the negative publicity they would receive. His parents, sensing that something might be wrong due to the negative publicity surrounding their son, chose to go and live with him for a while (Cho 1). While living there, it became clear that homosexuality was something that was new to most of the people in South Korea (Hang 1). They kept asking him to change his mind, which is something that is practically impossible, since it is not by choice that one becomes interested in members of the same sex. His choice to openly state that he was gay brought its fair share of challenges. Socially and professionally, he suffered a great deal. Once a famous star, his roles and TV appearance calls began to diminish, and his once glamorous and star-filled life began to decline. His friends chose to abandon him and talk behind his back, and he would have to deal with the strange glances on the street every time after his decision to publicly announce that he was gay. Cultures and traditions For people in South Korea, talking about sex is socially forbidden. The concept of homosexuality may have been unheard off until the coming out of Hong Seok-cheon (Glionna 1). The people are firm followers of the Confucian traditions and teachings, and to them, the idea or concept of being sexually interested in people of the same sex is taboo (Legge 57). According to different sources, the idea of homosexuality is regarded as a disease and sickness that can be eradicated with proper medication and treatment. For most people, especially parents, who heard that their children may be interested in people of the same sex, forcing them to marry women, or even go to mental institutions were some of the ways of trying to help them (Cho 1). As with any society that holds on to the firm beliefs of their cultures and traditions, sex between man and woman is the only way to go about life and living. It is the belief of many people that westernization is the cause of all that is wrong. Many believe that the evolution of time has forced people to forget about morals and traditions and focus on themselves. In most traditional settings, people believe that westernization has led to the collapse of morals, and has greatly contributed to the moral decay that is often exhibited in present society. However, one may beg the question, where does westernization come in when one individual feels inclined to be interested in members of the opposite sex? For Hong Seok-cheon, being gay and coming out may have been the most difficult thing for him to do. According to what he says, he had been living a lie for a long time, and when he decided to tell the truth, it was at a time where society had not fully grasped the concept of homosexuality (Seo 63). Even in the west, where the world considers it as the hub of all that is wrong, there are problems when it comes to the rights of the LGBTQ group. During the turn of the new millennium, not many people had come to terms with the choices people made about their sexual partners (Seo 73). For Hong Seok-cheon, doing so in a society that held firmly to its beliefs may have been a bold move on his part. Back in 2000, this concept had not been publicly discussed or talked about. It did not even have forums to advocate for the rights and equal treatment of people who fell under this category of individuals (Legge 62). Realization and acceptance of the LGBTQ community At the time, Hong Seok-cheon did not have anyone to fall back on when he decided that living a lie was not what he wanted to do. When the recording of his coming out statement was omitted or edited before being aired, he decided that going out on his own was the only way to show the world that he was gay (Cho 1). After that is when all his troubles began. Back in 2000, ignorance about what was going on was what prevented people from accepting the true nature that surrounded people like Hong. His confession is what may have paved the way for more people who felt like they needed to hide to have the courage to admit that they were the same as he was. The people of Korea did not understand what it was, and it was just a question of how long before more people like Hong came out to admit or even support the idea of homosexuality (Borowiec 1). Hong was the first to create the communication channels on the subject. Different newspaper outlets and editorials, talk shows (both radio and TV), and even documentaries started talking, discussing, and analyzing the subject. This slow, but steady recognition made activists, who were previously in the shadows, gain courage and confidence to start advocating for the rights and equal treatment of all gay people. With the use of picket signs and masks, they slowly made their way to the streets to start a campaign to raise awareness on the presence of the gay community, and the position they play in everyday societal life (King 7). The portrayal of homosexuals in different drama television series depicted people who were normal, and that their roles in society were no different from those who considered themselves straight or heterosexual (Ye-Jong and Hwa-Jin 12). The influx of movies and dramas from the west made it impossible to ignore the fact that homosexual existed, and even without knowing it, the voice of the LGBTQ community grew in South Korea. The media played a herculean role in bringing out some of the basic truths of the minority groups in Korea, but it still was not enough (IGLHRC 1). Documentaries about people openly saying they were gay on live television and still being chastised and refused by family was heartbreaking in a society that was still considered highly conservative and traditional. In recapping and recounting about the struggles and hardships he went through, Hong once broke down when he received a letter on a certain show (Healing Camp). It is a show where individuals who have battled with the trauma and stigma of coming out go to share their experiences, in relation to their friends, families, and society after coming out. What makes it harder for these minority groups in regions such as Korea is the banishment and neglect or abandonment by family and friends. Hong Seok-cheon says that his biggest struggle was the tears and prayers by his family to change his mind, and eventually marry a woman (Cho 2). At the time he was receiving the negative media swirl, they came to stay with him trying to understand the thinking behind his choices. I believe that for any significant stride to be made there must be challenges from both within and without the struggling individual’s immediate environment. Discrimination despite changes in time and attitude Even though society is changing its stance on the minority groups in Korea, certain groups are still presenting challenges to the stride made by the gay communities. The government was once advised by the National Human Rights Commission to generate a nondiscrimination bill that would help the gay community members from being ostracized by the general population. However, the biggest opponent of this move happened to be the conservative Christian community in Korea, largely the Catholic and Protestant religions, who still consider any gay relations a sin according to the Bible (Poore 1). Others, for example; the Confucian traditionalists, do not even discuss the subject or issue. To them, it is not worth discussing. This goes to show of how ignorant the older Koreans are on the subject of homosexuality. In the military, where all male Koreans have a two-year compulsory service duty, the issue of homosexuality gets its biggest opponent. The military forbids any acts of homosexuality or against any homosexuals while in service to the Korean Republic. This means that whenever a Korean male is considered of age to join the military, he should not engage in any sexual acts with people of the same sex, or orchestrate any acts against the homosexual community, which could be interpreted as harassment. Any of the above actions warrant a jail sentence of up to a year in prison (Soo 8). According to Hong, these social resistances are the cause of his long-term bitterness against a society that does not want to open its eyes to the open truth about the minority groups that exist within their midst. It is also these resistances that prevent the movement of the gay community (The Economist 1), but he claims that he will charge ahead defiantly. In conclusion, the progress in South Korea on the rights of the LGBTQ community may not have been possible had it not been for the courage and confidence of one member of society who sought to change his life, and the minds of people in the region. Despite the hardships he endured, Hong Seok-cheon forged ahead to make a name for himself even when the whole society thought that his choices were wrong and morally corrupt. He strived to become one of the most prominent people in modern society, in a bid to show that even gay people can be successful and prosperous (Young-Gwan and Sook-Ja 11). His choices may have been influenced by the troubles he faced while hiding who he really was, and even though his choices had consequences, he helped pave the way for the recognition of gay people in Korea, and the impact they have on the larger population (Youngshik 9). Even though there is still a long way to go for these minority groups and not just in South Korea alone, it is my belief that the world will come to accept that this is not a lifestyle choice, but a way of life for most people. Works Cited “The Gay Divide: Victories for Gay Rights in Some Parts of the World Have Provoked a Backlash Elsewhere.” The Economist 11 Oct. 2014. Print. Borowiec, Steven. “South Korea’s LGBT Community is Fighting for Equal Rights.” Time 11 Feb. 2014. Print. Cho, Joohee. “Breaking the Gay Taboo in South Korea.” ABC News 27 May 2009. Print. Engardio, Joel. “Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon Wants Same-sex Marriage in Korea as First in Asia.” The Examiner 12 Oct. 2014. Print. Glionna, John M. “South Korean Actor Throws Open Closet Door.” Los Angeles Times 5 Mar. 2012. Print. Hang, Sang-hee. “Actor Hong Suk-Chun to Host Coming Out.” The Korea Times 13 Apr. 2008. Print. International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission. South Korea: Homosexuality Removed from Classification of “Harmful and Obscene” in Youth Protection Law. Seoul: IGLHRC, 2003. Print. King, Brian W. “Being Gay Guy, That is the Advantage: Queer Korean Language Learning and Identity Construction,” Journal of Language, Identity, and Education 7.1 (2008). Print. Legge, James. The Sacred Books of the East: The Tests of Confucianism. New York: Charles Scribner’s Son. Poore, Grace. Korea: LGBT Students in Danger of Being Left Out of Non-Discrimination Protections. The Civil Rights Movement, 2014. Print. Seo, Dong-Jin. Mapping the Vicissitudes of Homosexual Identities in South Korea. London: Harrington Park Press, 2001. Print. Soo, Yon Suh. “Suicide of Gay Soldier Brings to Surface the Militaries Indifference to Sexual Minorities.” Human Rights Monitor, South Korea 18 Jan. 2013. Print. Ye-Jong, Lee and Hwa-Jin, Lee, “Perceptions of the Sexual Minority Among Korean University Students,” Advances in Information Sciences and Service Sciences 5.15 (2013). Print. Young-Gwan, Kim and Sook-Ja, Hahn. “Homosexuality in Ancient and Modern Korea.” Culture, Health & Sexuality 8.1 (2006). Print. Youngshik, Bong D. “The Gay Rights Movement in Democratizing Korea.” Korean Studies 32.1 (2008). Print. Read More