Raising Queer Workers' Rights in South Korea

[Open Forum] Thriving and surviving in the workplace as an LGBTQ worker

According to the 2021 Seoul Institute's Pilot Survey on Cultural Diversity Perception, "8 out of 10 people responded that they oppose discrimination, but 60% of respondents do not want to meet LGBTQ workers as their co-workers." Indeed, according to a Survey of 2,341 Korean gay, lesbian, and bisexual adults in 2016, "93% of LGBTQ workers experience negative attitudes toward LGBT people at work."

As such, LGBTQ workers in Korean society face hatred, discrimination and microaggression in their workplace. However, sometimes they don't recognize that their experiences can be defined as discrimination when those experiences are persistent and subtle.

We held an open forum to facilitate dialogue on LGBTQ workers' experiences of workplace discrimination and microaggression and raise awareness on labor rights of LGBTQ workers. The forum was held online due to the social distancing measures under COVID-19. In the forum, the results of the in-depth interview with LGBTQ workers were presented, which was conducted by Solidarity for LGBT Human Rights of Korea. As a panelist, an lesbian worker shared her experiences in the workplace. A panelist from Gwanak-gu Labor Welfare Center presented results of their project of LGBTQ labor rights. Panelists and participants discussed what can be done to prevend workplace discrimination and microaggression and to create inclusive and LGBT-friendly workplace in Korean society.