Time/date: 1~6 PM, 5/31 (Sat.)
Venue: Berlin Plaza ~ Cheong Gye Plaza (Jongro)

Staged by socially oppressed sexual minorities including gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgenders, the act of proudly marching down urban centers is called a “Pride Parade.” First begun in New York City in 1969 to commemorate the Stonewall Uprising, the “Pride Parade” spread to San Francisco and Los Angeles in the following year. Initially encompassing merely 3,000 participants, it has grown in scale so that, in 1994, 1 million participants gathered in New York City alone, an event covered live by CNN. Today, despite slight differences in scheduling, such parades are held in major cities not only in the US but also throughout the world to celebrate and support sexual minorities’ pride and to demand freedom and equality for them.

As for Korea, we held our very first, historic parade in Daehangno with help from what is now the Seoul Fringe Festival. In succeeding years, we held the parade in various locations including Hongik University and its vicinities and Itaewon, depending on the practicalities each year. Since the 4th KQCF in 2003, however, Jongro has been firmly established as the venue of the parade. This year, the parade route, which spans from Cheonggye 1-ga to Cheonggye 3-ga, is the longest ever.

How do I get to the rendezvous area?

All parade participants and organizers will meet at Samil Bridge in Cheonggyecheon 2-ga.
Subway: Get off at Jonggak station (line no. 1), Jongro 3-ga station (line nos. 3 and 5)
Bus : Get off at Jongro 2-ga
Taxi : Get off in front of the former Cine Core movie theater or Samil Bridge

Because there is no parking lot exclusively for parade participants, however, please use public transportation. If you have trouble getting to the rendezvous area, please contact us at 0505-303-1998.

If I want to take part in the parade, what should I do first?

You can participate either individually or in groups.
Please contact the KQCF Office (e-mail: kqcf@naver.com; phone: 0505-303-1998) to apply for participation.
We will then provide detailed information including the directions to the rendezvous area and your exact spot in the parade.
The application deadline is 5/25 (Fri.).
But even if you miss the deadline, never fear…! You can apply and take part even on the day of the parade itself.

Can I put on makeup and costumes at the parade venue?

Face painting, makeup, and changing rooms will be provided on the site free of charge, in booths near the stage.
Please ask the festival volunteers for the exact locations.
All facilities will be open starting at 10 AM.
Because there will be a longer line close to the actual time of the parade, please come early if you need to put on makeup and/or costumes.

What do we do after the parade?

After the parade returns to the starting point, there will be hour-long congratulatory performances by special guests.
Carry the excitement of the parade into the post-parade party.
Free shuttle buses will take you to the party venue.

PARADE  TIME  SCHEDULE

Issuance of press cards to journalists/reporters

On the day of the parade itself, journalists/reporters may not photograph, videotape, or cover the parade unless they have been issued an official press card by the KQCF.
Press cards will be issued from 11 AM at the KQCF Information Desk near the stage once you have identified your affiliation and purpose of reportage and have been briefed on guidelines.

Indication of parade participants’ refusal to be photographed or videotaped
(protection of the right of likeness/portrait)

Parade participants include both those who consent to being photographed or videotaped and those who do not. Please respect the wishes of the latter group and actively cooperate to protect their right of likeness/portrait.
For parade participants who do not wish to be photographed or videotaped, the KQCF will prepare red ribbons. Please put one of these ribbons on your head, neck, or arm (please refrain from putting the ribbon on your wrist because it may go unnoticed). You can get a red ribbon from the KQCF Information Desk.
Red ribbons signify that those who are wearing them do not wish their photographs or video recordings to be disclosed through any type of media including television, newspapers, magazines, personal blogs, and online cafes/clubs.
So please refrain altogether from photographing or videotaping parade participants who are wearing red ribbons.
If your photographs or video recordings later turn out to include parade participants with red ribbons, please do not use those particular photographs or video recordings.
If you nevertheless must use such photographs or video recordings, please make sure to efface or otherwise blur the faces of parade participants who are wearing red ribbons so that they are unidentifiable and unrecognizable.

Special guests