Raising Queer Workers' Rights in South Korea

Haengseongin(Solidarity for LGBT Human Rights of Korea) participated as the LGBTQ+ contingent in the 2025 National Workers' Rally, held at Dongdaemun History & Culture Park on November 8, conducting on-site activities to raise awareness about the existence and labor rights of LGBTQ+ workers.

The National Workers' Rally is a space for sharing and expressing solidarity around diverse labor issues and struggles. However, the voices of LGBTQ+ workers have often been difficult to make visible. In response, Haengseongin organized activities under the message, “LGBTQ+ workers are here at the National Workers’ Rally,” aiming to demonstrate that LGBTQ+ people are also workers who struggle, organize, and demand workers’ rights as active stakeholders in the labor movement.

On the day of the rally, Haengseongin operated a booth from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM, engaging with union members and participants. The booth featured a quiz program on LGBTQ+ labor rights and distributed the booklet <To You, Who Will Be an Ally of LGBTQ+ People> along with informational leaflets. Through these materials, we sought to share why LGBTQ+ people participate in the National Workers’ Rally and to invite greater attention to the labor rights of LGBTQ+ workers. Approximately 500 leaflets were distributed.

Following the booth activities, the group joined the rally’s march holding a banner, visually demonstrating that LGBTQ+ workers are an integral part of the National Workers' Rally. The slogan, “LGBTQ+ Workers Stand with the 2025 National Workers’ Rally Inheriting the Spirit of Jeon Tae-il,” drew interest and expressions of solidarity from other participants and served as an opportunity to highlight LGBTQ+ labor rights as a crucial agenda within the labor movement.

Through this participation, we reaffirmed that while many workers express solidarity with LGBTQ+ people, there is still a lack of concrete understanding about who LGBTQ+ people are, the challenges they face, and how they live their lives. Moving forward, there is a need to build connections using clearer and more accessible language. Haengseongin remains committed to continuing its efforts to ensure that LGBTQ+ workers can safely exist, be welcomed, and take part in collective struggle within workplaces and the broader labor movement.