Within a short time, Seoul Pride has emerged as a vibrant, even dramatic, example of pride in diversity. My partner and I attended the events every year from 2018 to 2022. We joined in the march through the city — twice in the pouring rain — addressed large crowds from the stage and mixed with excited local attendees, most of them much younger than we.

Our initial exposure to Seoul Pride was a confronting, even scary, experience. The first year saw a seemingly larger contingent of protestors outside the city hall plaza — where the festival was based —  than participants inside. Their objections were expressed in banners, loud music and aggressive slogans.