1. Organization Name: Solidarity for LGBT Human Rights of Korea

2. Statement
Women, sexual minorities and the disabled have been the most deprived people in our history. Even worse, sexual minorities have always been regarded mentally abnormal. With that in mind, it is reality that there have not been established any movements of sexual minorities in Korean history. Korean gay men and lesbians could not challenge the social prejudice.

We see that early efforts of the Korean gay and/or lesbian organizations that actually came out in 1994 fell far short of earning wide recognition and sexual minorities have not even paid a resolute attention to these movements in general. We think that human rights movements on sexual minorities must go on in cooperation with other social movements because we, sexual minorities, are also a member of this society. We, therefore, focus our main ideas and activities on integration of our efforts with labor unionists, feminists and general human rights activists.

1. The mission/goal of our organization or project.

Major goals of our organization are as follows :

Abolishing discrimination of sexual minorities.

Achieving cooperation among different minority groups.

Establishing a consistent alliance against oppression on foreign workers, women and national workers.

Addressing sexual minorities issues onto "National Human Rights Commission" (to be established in 1999 by the government)

Establishing cooperated shields against illegal investigation of gay bars and mass-media companies broadcasting and reporting biased news on sexual minorities.

Staging allied movements against the government's illogical AIDS policies saying, ".. must have our sex education strengthened in order to help the youngsters avoid being involved in the homosexual ideas and activities, which will hopefully lower the rate of HIV-positive among the population .."

2. Organization's History and major accomplishments

1997 January

Our organization participated in national labor strike in January 1997, which was caused by illegal passage of labor law by the leading party. There were 11 founding members at the early stage, and now more than 100 people are joining VOLAG.

1997 October

In Seoul, Participating in "Sign of Support" demonstration against biased censorship standard. Distribution of the movie "Happy Together (Buenos Aires)" produced by Wang Kai Wei was prohibited in Korea due to the fact that its theme was homosexual love between two men. About 5,000 signatures were gathered

1998 January

In Seoul, Organizing allied demonstration against false and illogical reporting on sexual minorities and government's AIDS policies. Earlier in January, KBS, the state-owned broadcasting company released reports on ugly sexual behavior at gay saunas in central Seoul. At the same time, the government's Anti-AIDS Federation released a report in several national newspapers on gay men's sexual behavior, which says that homosexual behavior spread AIDS disease. With VOLAG's leading role, sexual minority groups participated in this demonstration.

Thus, for the first time in our history, The Allied Gay and Lesbian Committee was organized.

1998 February

Participating in "Candidates' addressing conference in The National Democratic Labor Unions' Election" to ask candidates about their policies on sexual minorities.

1998 March

Participating in "The Labor Issue Conference" held by grassroots labor organizations. As a sexual minorities' organization, we addressed our issues to other participants. In fact, unionists became our first supporters. It was difficult to argue why sexual minorities are to cooperate with unionists because human rights movements are still unfamiliar to labor unionists in general.

1998 June

Establishing cooperated shields against illegal ambushes in gay bars by police. Some gay bars at Itaewon and Chong-no in Seoul had been ambushed by adjacent police department officers several times. The policemen checked every customer to see if there are any adolescent persons among them. At times, some customers become injured during the investigation because they felt afraid of revealing their sexual orientation in public.

1998 May

Holding a conference titled "Is Homosexuality abnormal?" This conference's topic was "Oppression upon Sexual Minorities and How to Overcome the Current Discrimination". More than 300 participants joined.

1998, 12-16 May

Held lecture, film festival, joint forum, joint tavern with Inha University Student Committee of Engineering

1998, 23 June

Participated a public hearing How to organize a National Human Right Committee held by Korean Human Right Organization Council


1998, 7 July - 13 Aug

Held scientific forum for 7 weeks

1998, 1 August

Renamed as Lesbian and Gay Human Right Federation (LGHRF)

1998, 6-9 August

Participated Campaign for Amnesty to Conscience Prisoner 8 held by Democratization Practice Family Movement Council

1998, 14-16 August

Lesbian and Gay Human Right Federation Summer Camp

1998, 22 August

Na, Sun-woo was elected as a second representative

1998, 28 October

Participated in Nation Assembly Human Right Forum on 'Human Right and Policy of AIDS Infected

1998, 8 November

Participated in People is Rally 8, distributed leaflets

1998, 15 November

Autumn Picnic with "Himangnanumto (space where we share hope)" a sanitarium for AIDS infected 1999, May elected the third representative of Lesbian and Gay Human Right Federation

1999, 1 June

Supported fast strike of National Military Violence Victims Bereaved Family Council. Representative Lim was taken to the Yongsan Policy Department by police riots

1999, May

Carried out the petition campaign for the release of Hong, Kyo-son, chairperson of Chaekkalpi, who was put in prison because he published gay-socialist publication.

1999, July

Participated in Joint Meeting for the Normalization of Evada, a corrupt organization of challenged people.


1999, July

Participated in Korean NGO Form Human Right Section of ASEM 2000. Working on developing agendas about social minorities with Seoul Challenged Federation

1999, 28 July

Submitted a request to modify the national middle/high school textbook that described LGBT incorrectly. Held a press interview with Lawyer Lee, Suk-tae

1999, August

Participated in Campaign for Amnesty to Conscience Prisoners held by Democratization Practice Family Movement Council. Myongdong Cathedral in Seoul

1999, 9 September

Participated in the rally for democratization of Burma in front of Myanmar Embassy with Burma NLD.

1999, October

Rally for demanding the organizing National Human Right Committee (NHRC) as a dependant national organization. Many activists including LGHRF representative Lim were beaten and hurt by riot police

1999, November

Organize the Joint Countermeasure Council for Freedom of Expression in Publication and Release of Hong, Kyo-son

2000, June

Participated in Pan-national Countermove Council for the Closure of Maehyangri U.S. Air Force Bombing Place.

LGHRF representative Lim was beaten by 15 riot police while he checked the polices taking priest Moon violently.

2000, September

Nation-wide Lecture and film showing on Is Homosexuality Abnormal planned

2004, August

Renamed as Solidarity for LGBT Human Rights of Korea