SOUTH KOREA: Gay cruise docks in conservative South Korea

Record ID: 225712

  • Title: SOUTH KOREA: Gay cruise docks in conservative South Korea
  • Date: 22nd March 2010
  • Summary: BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA (MARCH 22, 2010) (REUTERS) AZAMARA QUEST CRUISE LINER REACHING TO BUSAN HARBOR SIGN OF AZMARA QUEST ON CRUISE LINER FLAG SIDE VIEW OF CRUISE LINER
  • Embargoed: 6th April 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky,Travel / Tourism
  • Reuters ID: LVA2WQ6S709R16R09PY6ZUG427E1
  • Story Text: A luxury cruise liner docks in South Korea, one of the most conservative countries of Asia, as it makes its way through Asia on a trip catering especially to gay passengers.
    A luxury cruise liner docked at South Korea's biggest port city, Busan, on Monday (March 22), continuing its journey for gay passengers around Asian destinations.
    The five-star cruise carrying more than 400 gay people kicked off its 11-day Asian tour in China's Shanghai on Saturday (March 20).
    The tour was organised by U.S.-based Atlantis Events, one of the world's biggest gay and lesbian tour operators in conjunction with Azamara Cruises, a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Cruises.
    The cruise features shows and parties aboard the Azamara Quest as well as sightseeing and shopping segments at various stops.
    "The whole ship is gay people from all over the different countries from all around the world, and it's an opportunity for all of us to be together and have fun and not be concerned about what people think. We can have fun, dance and drink and eat, and have a good time together," said 47-year-old American, Scot Sliwinski.
    Thirty-year-old American Tommy Roy said he would like to see more understanding toward gay communities in Asian countries.
    "I think you guys should discover the differences or the diversity of gay culture, gay night life, gay people. I think everybody needs to be free and I expect that so. So, I think Koreans should do the same thing too," Roy said.
    Many Koreans are still uncomfortable with homosexuality and some deny its existence in conservative.
    "I think it's very unnatural that a man dates a man. Men should be dating women. If I have people like them around me, I would definitely and forcibly stop them from dating," said said 58-year-old Gwack Seong-ryong.
    Not only is same-sex marriage not legal in the country, but many South Korean homosexuals are fearful of coming out.
    However, some onlookers in Busan welcomed the unusual sight.
    "It looks nice to me. South Korea is a pretty conservative country, so we don't see this kind of thing much here. However, it looks okay when I see these (gay) foreigners walking around here. It's all right," said 58-year-old Jang Hyun-boon.
    South Korean society is evolving to adopt a more liberal attitude to issues such as homosexuality thanks to a fast-developing Internet network.
    The 11-day cruise from March 20 to 30, will stop in Hiroshima, Kyoto and Kagoshima in Japan, before heading to Taipei and finishing in Hong Kong.
    The price of the cruise ranges from 1,999 U.S. dollars for an interior cabin room to 6,999 U.S. dollars for the 560 square-foot penthouse, organisers said.
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