By Lee Kyung-min
A local court granted a request from the organizers of the Korea Queer Festival and ordered police to withdraw their order banning the groups’ parade scheduled for June 28 in downtown Seoul.
The organizers filed the petition with the Seoul Administrative Court after the Namdaemun Police Station rejected their request for a permit to allow the parade on May 30.
Police issued the subsequent ban on their assembly citing possible traffic congestion in central Seoul and possible clashes with religious groups.
The court said irrevocable harm would incur on the organizers in the event of the parade’s cancellation.
“The parade has been held annually since 2000. The ban will discard the organizers’ yearlong effort for the event,” the judge said in its ruling.
“Police banning the public rally should be reserved as the last resort, when all the possible options are exhausted.”
The street parade will be held as planned as the final event of the celebration of sexual minorities.
The annual event focuses on the local LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community.
The festival began last week, and has been drawing fierce protests from local Christians who argue that homosexuality is a "sin" and therefore the festival should be called off.