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Yun Hyon-seok

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In this Korean name, the family name is Yun.
Yun Hyon-seok
윤현석
Born(1984-08-07)August 7, 1984
Changjeondong, Byupyong street, Incheon, South Korea
DiedApril 26, 2003(2003-04-26) (aged 18)
Dongdaemun, Dongdaemun street, Seoul, South Korea
Cause of deathSuicide by hanging
NationalityKorean
Other namesYook Woo Dang, Seolheon, Midong
Occupation(s)Poet, writer, human rights activist
Korean name
Hangul
윤현석[1]
Hanja
尹賢碩
Revised RomanizationYun Hyeonseok
McCune–ReischauerYun Hyŏnsŏk
Art name
Hangul
육우당, 설헌, 미동, 동화, 안토니오
Hanja
六友堂, 雪軒, 美童, 童花
Revised RomanizationYuk Udang, Seolheon, Midong, Donghwa, Antonio
McCune–ReischauerYuk Udang, Sŏrhŏn, Midong, Tonghwa, Ant'onio

Yun Hyon-seok (Korean: 윤현석; Hanja: 尹賢碩; August 7, 1984 – April 26, 2003[2]) was a South Korean LGBT poet, writer, and activist.[3] He wrote under the pen names Yuk Wu-dang (육우당,[4][5] 六友堂, home of six friends) and Seolheon (설헌, 雪軒), and was also known by his nickname Midong (미동, 美童, beautiful boy) or Donghwa (동화, 童花, Boy flower).[citation needed]

Yun spent most of his life being excluded, bullied, and discriminated against for being gay.[4][6] He used writing as an escape,[citation needed] something he carried with him after he dropped out of high school and moved to Seoul's Dongdaemun District.[7][8][9] He became an active member and staff member of Solidarity for LGBT Human Rights of Korea.[9][3] Yun participated in the LGBT rights movement,[9][3] as well as movements in support of disability rights and sex worker rights[citation needed] and in opposition of mandatory conscription.[4][3] A devout Catholic, Yun struggled immensely with the Church's rejection of homosexuality and spent much of his time arguing against misconceptions and cruelty.[10][11]

Yun died by suicide on April 26, 2003.[12][13]

Early life

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Yun was born in 1984 in Bupyong, Incheon to two teachers, both of whom were devout Roman Catholics. He was baptised with the name "Antonio".[3] Yun began to question his sexuality during middle school and was bullied because of it.[8] He faced homophobia and racism in all parts of his life, including on the internet, and became increasingly isolated, something he documented in his journal. He began self-medicating with tranquilisers, sleeping pills, alcohol, and cigarettes.[6][4]

Yun was dependent on green tea, rosary beads, tobacco, alcohol, foundation, and sleeping pills,[6] which became known metaphorically as his "six friends."[3] This inspired one of his pen names, Yook Woo-dang,[14] which also means "six friends." It became his most-used pseudonym.[citation needed] Despite facing constant homophobia, including from his family, who attempted to pressure him into being heterosexual, he wrote in October 2002: "I do not think I'm abnormal... This road exists as also another road exists. Most persons use the well-worn path, but I have to go on a lone desolate path."[9]

He attended Seil High School and eventually transferred to Incheon High School, though he dropped out entirely in December 2002.[9][7] On October 8, 2002, he was sent to a psychiatric hospital, as his family believed theories about homosexuals being psychopaths.[3]

Later life

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South Korean LGBT Flag

After leaving school, he moved to the Dongdaemun District in Seoul, where he became involved in the literary and LGBT activist scenes.[7] He was deeply upset with political figures' assertions that his work violated traditional Korean social mores due to the conservative attitudes prevalent in South Korean society.[8] Though he wanted to write using his name, he decided to use a pseudonym, as his writing contained homosexual themes.[7][15] He also used the name Seolheon in honor of the pre-modern Korean poet Heo Nanseolheon.[8]

Yun began writing during his adolescence to work through his pain. He often used satire in his poems and prose and wrote at length about censorship in South Korea, prejudice, disappointment, conservatism, and outdated social norms.[citation needed] Yun joined the D Sijo and W Sijo poetry clubs with the rank of student member. He contributed many writings, including poetry, to the groups over two years.[8]

In January 2003, he worked at a gay bar in Gangnam-gu, Seoul but left after a brief period due to his anxiety.[8] He worked several part-time jobs and dedicated his free time to activism. In late March, he became a full-time employee of the organisation Solidarity for LGBT Human Rights of Korea after more than two years of volunteer work and participation.[9][3][16]

Activism

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He participated in media censorship-opposition movements, particularly those that argued that exposure to homosexuality was harmful to children. He also attended anti-war and pro-peace rallies in the Jongno District, including in opposition to Korean troops being sent overseas to serve in the Iraq War.[4][3] In April 2003, he became a conscientious objector to military service, refusing to abide by the country's mandatory conscription.[4][3] His dedication eventually saw him become a leader and speaker in these movements.[8] He was also a participant in disability rights and sex worker rights movements.[citation needed] He was outspoken against the theory that homosexual people were vectors of HIV/AIDS, dismissing it as a groundless assumption. He also worked against homophobia on the internet.[8][17]

As a Catholic, Yun worked to emphasise that denying acceptance to homosexual Christians, who are "children of God", goes against the Bible's teachings, and that homosexuality is not a mental illness.[10][18]

On April 2, 2003, the South Korean National Human Rights Commission of Korea made a formal announcement that the country's LGBT and LGBT-related media censorship was a human rights abuse.[11] Some conservative Christians groups demanded that the Commission withdraw the statement.[19] Yun publicly criticized the church's stance in an article in Hangyeorye on April 13, using his real name,[20] before deciding to withdraw from Catholic society entirely. He rescinded this decision within two days and returned to praying daily for the discrimination against homosexual people to end.[3][4]

Death and legacy

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On April 24, 2003, Yun wrote a six-page suicide note[21][8] that described the discrimination he had faced, his contempt for homophobic Christians, and the cruelty of homophobia.[22][18][9][6][23] The letter concluded with: '"I believe My Father God will accept me!"[24] He bequeathed ₩340,000 and his rosary beads to Solidarity for LGBT Human Rights of Korea.[6][25] He died by suicide by hanging on April 26, 2003 at the Dongdaemun in Seoul.[26][27][8][13] Two bottles of distilled Korean spirits were found near his body.[8][28] He was discovered by a member of the Solidarity for LGBT Human Rights of Korea the following day.[citation needed]

Following his death, the South Korean government began the process to reverse their decision to censor gay media.[27][29] To commemorate the third anniversary of Yun's death, a book of his poems and prose was published.[29] The Solidarity for LGBT Human Rights of Korea also established the Yookwoodang Literary Award in his honor.[30]

Books

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  • Yook Woo Dang: 《Let My Spirit Rain Down as Flower Petals》(육우당: 내 혼은 꽃비 되어; 2013) [29]
  • 《Diary of Yook Woo Dang》(육우당일기 六友堂日記, unpublished)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ ""내 혼은 꽃비 되어" 고 육우당 3주기 추모행사 개최 및 추모집 발간" [“My soul becomes a rain of flowers” Held a memorial event for the 3rd anniversary of the late Yuk Woo-dang and published a memorial book] (in Korean). News. 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2016-05-13. 2003년 4월25일 스스로 목숨을 끊은 동성애자 고 '육우당'(당시 19살) 10주기 추모기도회가 시작됐다. 사회를 맡은 '동성애자인권연대'(동인련) 활동가 정욜(35)씨는 이 자리에 모인 100여명에게 감사의 인사를 건네면서도 '보안' 당부를 잊지 않았다.
  2. ^ ""주님, 육우당 형제의 눈물을 닦아주소서"" [Lord, please wipe away Brother Yuk Woo-dang’s tears.]. Catholic News. April 26, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "나의 일곱번째 친구는 누구입니까" [Who is my 7th friend?] (in Korean). The Hankyoreh. April 26, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "어느10대 동성애자의 자살" [Suicide of a homosexual teenager] (in Korean). The Hankyoreh. May 8, 2003.
  5. ^ "청소년 동성애는 비행이라고?" [Is homosexuality among teenagers a delinquency?] (in Korean). The Hankyoreh.
  6. ^ a b c d e "슬퍼 맙시다. 다시 떠나보내지 맙시다" [Let's not be sad. Let's not let them go again.] (in Korean). OhmyNews. May 4, 2003. Archived from the original on March 24, 2014.
  7. ^ a b c d Cheol, Baek (May 7, 2013). "[금지법 논란]'차별의 범위'에 무슨 내용 담겼길래?" [[Prohibition law controversy] What is contained in ‘scope of discrimination’?] (in Korean). Kyunghyang Shinmun. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "죽음으로 마감한 '커밍아웃'" [‘Coming out’ ended in death] (in Korean). The Sisajournal. May 15, 2003.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g "가식적인 기독교에 깨달음을"…어느 10대의 죽음] 프레시안" [“Enlightenment to pretentious Christianity”…the death of a teenager] (in Korean). Pressian. April 21, 2013.
  10. ^ a b "한 동성애자의 죽음을 통한 절규" [A cry over the death of a homosexual] (in Korean). Sarangbang. April 29, 2003. Archived from the original on 2014-01-05.
  11. ^ a b "신앙인의 고뇌 담은 동성애자 이야기 발간] 가" [[Publishing a story about a homosexual person containing the agony of a believer]] (in Korean). Catholic News. December 8, 2010.
  12. ^ "한 번도 '우리의 이름'으로 장례를 치르지 못했어요" [We have never been able to hold a funeral in ‘our name’.]. Catholic News. April 26, 2013.
  13. ^ a b "10대 동성애자 '사회적 차별비관' 자살" [Teenage homosexual commits suicide due to ‘social discrimination pessimism’] (in Korean). The Hankyoreh. April 28, 2003.
  14. ^ "지상에 천국을 일군 한 동성애인의 꿈" [The dream of a homosexual who created heaven on earth] (in Korean). Hangyeorye. May 21, 2013. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  15. ^ "교회는 성(性)소수자를 향한 차별과 혐오에 침묵할 것인가?" [Will the church remain silent against discrimination and hatred towards sexual minorities?] (in Korean). Catholic News. April 22, 2010. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  16. ^ "또 한 명의 게이가 자살하기를 바라는 건가" [Do you want another gay person to commit suicide?] (in Korean). mediaus. November 2, 2010.
  17. ^ "동성애자 천주교 형제의 죽음, 그후 6년 변한 건 없다" [Death of a gay Catholic brother, nothing has changed in the six years since] (in Korean). OhmyNews. April 2, 2010. Archived from the original on January 28, 2015.
  18. ^ a b "소년의 자살 10년 지났지만…동성애 따가운 시선은 여전" [It's been 10 years since the boy's suicide... Homosexuality is still frowned upon] (in Korean). The Hangyeorye. April 24, 2013.
  19. ^ "10년전 기독 청소년 '육우당'이 왜 목을 맨 지 아십니까?] 미디어오늘" [Do you know why Christian youth ‘Yuk Woo-dang’ hanged himself 10 years ago?] (in Korean). Media Today. April 27, 2013.
  20. ^ "동성애자도 인권 존중해야 약자희생 모는 편견 곤란" [Homosexuals must also respect their human rights to avoid prejudice against the weak.] (in Korean). Hangyeorye. April 13, 2003.
  21. ^ ""죽은 뒤엔 거리낌없이 말할 수 있겠죠":20살 삶을 마감한 한 동성애자의 '절규'" [“After I die, I will be able to speak without hesitation”: The ‘scream’ of a homosexual who ended his life at the age of 20] (in Korean). OhmyNews. April 29, 2003. Archived from the original on December 16, 2014.
  22. ^ ""사람이 사람을 좋아하는 게 왜 문제가 되나요?"" [“Why is it a problem for people to like other people?”]. OhmyNews (in Korean). April 28, 2013. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013.
  23. ^ "그의 바람은 꽃비 되어 저항으로 다시 피어나리니" [His wind will become flower rain and bloom again with resistance.] (in Korean). Newscham. January 30, 2008.
  24. ^ "내가 믿는 하나님은 나를 받아줄 것이다" [The God I believe in will accept me.] (in Korean). Dang Dang News. October 29, 2007.
  25. ^ "'무지개를 휘날리며 앞으로 나아가다'" [‘Move forward with a rainbow waving’] (in Korean). OhmyNews. April 26, 2004. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013.
  26. ^ "Queer Rights Activists in South Korea Step Up Efforts to Support LGBTQ Youth". Archived from the original on 2014-03-06. Retrieved 2014-04-13.
  27. ^ a b "청소년유해매체물에 '동성애' 삭제키로" [‘Homosexuality’ to be removed from media harmful to youth] (in Korean). OhmyNews. April 29, 2003. Archived from the original on October 3, 2013.
  28. ^ "무지개 깃발 휘날리며, 성소수자로 연대하다] 가톨릭뉴스 지금여기" [Waving the rainbow flag, solidarity with sexual minorities] (in Korean). Catholic News. November 23, 2012.
  29. ^ a b c ""내 혼은 꽃비 되어"" [“My soul becomes a rain of flowers”] The true world] (in Korean). Newshcma. April 26, 2006.
  30. ^ "청소년동성애자 故육우당 10주기 : 동인련, 김한길 발언은 "무지의 소산"" [10th death anniversary of late homosexual youth Yuk Woo-dang: Donginryun, Kim Han-gil's remarks are "a product of ignorance"] (in Korean). redian. March 28, 2013.

Sources

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