By Kim Hyelin and Lee Jihae

Rainbow flags representing various sexual orientations and identities on June 1 will be waved across Seoul in the 20th annual Seoul Queer Parade, with the LGBTQ community and their supporters to walk from Seoul Plaza to Gwanghwamun.

The parade is the main event of the Seoul Queer Culture Festival, which marks its 20th edition this year under the theme "Twentieth Step, a Step toward Equality." To run through June 9, this event seeks to raise awareness of sexual minorities and reduce social stigma against them.

Seoul Plaza will have various booths installed that day and feature performances both before and after the march.

The 19th Korea Queer Film Festival will run from June 5-9 at Daehan Cinema, which will screen movies about the lives of sexual minorities.

At the event "Seoul Pink Dot" on May 31, participants at Seoul Plaza will individually shine pink lights to form a large collective pink dot to symbolize support for LGBTQ equality and respect for diversity.

Foreign embassies such as those of the U.S. and Mexico have shown their support for this festival by hoisting rainbow flags on their buildings. The embassies of nine countries including Norway, Denmark and Canada are slated to participate in the parade by opening stalls at Seoul Plaza.

More information about the festival is available through the links below:

Seoul Queer Culture Festival: http://sqcf.org/english
Korea Queer Film Festival: http://kqff.co.kr/Information_eng

kimhyelin211@korea.kr