Homosexual Confusion

Homosexuality is very stigmatized in Korea. It is a major problem for the country. Most gay Koreans live lies and have to remain silent when the average Korean says ridiculous things on the topic like “There are no gay Koreans” or “It’s only a Western problem.” Besides for Homo Hill, there is no openly gay district in the country (to my knowledge). With suicide being the problem it is in Korea and for the gay community, it has me worried for homosexual Korean youth.
 
At the same time, however, Korean men and boys often act what is perceived to be stereotypically (and not so stereotypically) “gay” in American culture. My male students (this goes for Elementary to High School) wear Hello Kitty, hot pink shoes, tennis socks with little pompoms. They hop on each others laps while they stroke and caress each others’ cheeks, hair, etc. They play crotch tag and often enjoy jamming their fingers between their classmates’ butt cheeks. This is all perceived to be normal male heterosexual behavior in Korea.

Go figure!

Today during self study one of my students was cuddling with his Hello Kitty strawberry shaped pillow while twirling his finger through his bleached hair. Suddenly he started cracking up.
“What’s so funny,” I asked him.

He pointed to a boy sitting in front of him. The boy had his arm around a female classmate as they shared i-pod ear buds.

“He’s a gay,” said the boy snuggling Hello Kitty.

PS
From experience, I can tell you there are one or two gay Koreans at least.