By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Stories about men loving men and women loving women are nothing new. Homosexuals have existed throughout history and so has hatred for it.
There are historical reports of gays and lesbians. The word lesbian came from a Greek female poet who loved women and cherished her life as a woman-lover. In Korean history, there is evidence of homosexuality. King Gongmin and Hyegong of the Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392) allegedly enjoyed relationships with young men, some historians said, citing records such as the Goryeosa (The history of Goryeo).
However, punishment on homosexuals has always existed throughout history. In the Middle Ages in Europe, gays were burnt and the Nazis, during the holocaust considered them inferior to Jews. Some in the medical field consider it mental disease. In Korea, at military camps, when a soldier is identified as being homosexual, he is admitted to a mental hospital and must go under treatment to heal his ``perverted'' sexuality.
Up until now, gay people, who should be happy as the name implies, are not always happy. Gay rights group's state that one out of every hundred people may be homosexual but merely one percent of them acknowledge their sexuality because they sometimes face social discrimination.
The treatment toward the homosexuals is quite severe. Christians and others say they are sinful and unacceptable in the name of God and are against nature. The National Human Rights Commission last year announced that gay soldiers are maltreated in their camps and are classified as those to watch over.
There is also misconception toward them. They were accused of spreading AIDS, which was later revealed to be equally prevalent amongst straight people with multiple partners who do not wear protection during sexual intercourse. Some psychologists have said homosexuality is a disease that can be cured.
It wasn't until 2000 when actor Hong Suk-cheon made a comment on a television program that he was in a serious relationship with a man that the Korean public engaged in public debate on gay people. Hong, who later held a press conference about his sexual identity, was isolated from the entertainment industry at the peak of his career.
He later told online media Dokebi news that he was nearly terrorized by Christians, journalists and people around him. ``There were some friends who stopped calling me. No one offered me a job anymore and I just had to stand by own all of a sudden,'' he said.
Hong is not alone anymore. Seven years after his coming out, there are several more people who have declared themselves as gay. Fashion consultant Hwang Eui-gun, filmmakers Kim Jo Gwang-su and Lee Song Hee-il all publicly said they are gay. After their statements, which required lots of courage, fans and supporters welcomed them.
These days, it is the mass media that bring the so-called ``homos'' much closer to the public. Box office mega hit ``The King and Clown,'' ``Road Movie,'' ``No Regret 2006,'' and small screen hit ``Coffee Prince'' and ``Jumong'' portrayed some aspects of gays in Korea. They had trouble with their identities at first, but accepted it and paved their own way through it.
Chosun Ilbo and Hankyoreh reported on gay couples who live with their parents and raise a family. In the reports, the ``happy couple'' said their family and friend were supportive.