Often found at theaters and museums, Kwon Mee-yoo has covered a wide range of cultural fields from K-pop and dramas to theater and fine art for over a decade. Now as K-Culture Desk editor, she tries to connect Korean culture with global readers through fresh perspectives.
New US ambassador to give speech at Seoul Queer Culture Festival
U.S. Ambassador to Korea Philip Goldberg visits the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in central Seoul, Tuesday. Goldberg will deliver a speech at the Seoul Queer Culture Festival, Saturday. Yonhap
By Kwon Mee-yoo
By Kwon Mee-yoo
New U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg will take part in the Seoul Queer Culture Festival (SQCF), Saturday.
According to the U.S. Embassy Seoul, Goldberg will deliver a speech promoting the rights of sexual minorities during the festival held at Seoul Plaza, Saturday.
The embassy has been taking part in the SQCF since 2014 and Goldberg's predecessors Mark Lippert and Harry Harris also took part in the event.
The arrival of Goldberg, who was appointed in February and arrived in Seoul last Sunday, already drew protests from Christian and far-right groups in front of the embassy.
The U.S. Embassy said it will continue to openly support the human rights of LGBTQ people regardless of the ambassador's sexual orientation.
The SQCF returns after three years due to social distancing regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
About 15 foreign diplomatic missions in Korea will participate in this year's SQCF to promote human rights. The U.S. Embassy will have a booth in collaboration with the British Embassy.
Foreign embassies in Seoul play an important role in supporting the annual festival celebrating LGBTQ rights here.
New Zealand Ambassador to Korea Philip Turner gave a speech with his same-sex spouse Hiroshi Ikeda in 2018.
In January, a group of foreign missions in Korea had written a letter of support when the festival's organizers were fighting with the Seoul Metropolitan Government.