Sangsuk Sylvia Kang

Sangsuk Sylvia Kang

Sangsuk Sylvia Kang

United States & South Korea

United States & South Korea

United States & South Korea

Series: Queereans

Series: Queereans

Series: Queereans

Despite rapid democratization and a growing #MeToo movement, Korea’s sexual minorities remain subjects of significant stigma. Strict gender roles, filial piety, and an expectation to fit in govern the Korean consciousness, and many believe queerness to be a western import. And in lieu of comprehensive anti-discrimination laws or rights for non-heterosexual couples, queerphobia, erasure, and discrimination has far-reaching roots in South Korea.
 Such context makes it hard for queer Koreans to exist openly, let alone fight for their rights. But some persist. The project focuses on documenting these individuals-who are out and open, who protest, who create, asserting their right to belong in Korean culture.

Queer artist and activist Heezy Yang eating pizza
Queer artist and activist Heezy Yang eating pizza
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Heezy getting ready
Heezy getting ready
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Heezy performing a gay wedding in Seoul subway
Heezy performing a gay wedding in Seoul subway
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Anti-LGBTQ demonstrators at Daegu Queer Culture Festival
Anti-LGBTQ demonstrators at Daegu Queer Culture Festival
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Artist Jungsik Lee with their video piece about living with HIV medication
Artist Jungsik Lee with their video piece about living with HIV medication
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Fenimist YouTuber Mi Hee Lee in Mangwon-dong
Fenimist YouTuber Mi Hee Lee in Mangwon-dong
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The Magenta Foundation gratefully acknowledges the support of TD Bank Group for their ongoing commitment to Flash Forward and to emerging artists.

© 2019 The Magenta Foundation