I knew I was forgetting something in my guidebook:
Among them are U.S. soldiers, who on recent visits by a reporter to the area made up a noticeable number of the Hill’s clientele despite the threat they face of being discharged from the military for having homosexual relationships.
This cluster of trendy bars, with names like “Queen” and “Always Homme,” is a 10-minute walk from Yongsan Garrison, the U.S. military’s flagship base in South Korea. The Hill is one of the few places gay and lesbian U.S. servicemembers can be somewhat open about their sexuality while stationed in the country.
“This is the perfect place, if you’ve never been [openly] gay before, to come out,” said an Army medic stationed at Yongsan, who, like other gay soldiers in this story, consented to be interviewed only on condition that he not be identified.
“You’re in a foreign country. When you go back to the States, who knows?” he added.
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
What about Starbutts?
Gay or straight?
seems there is a higher percentage of gay expats than in a regular sampling of Miguk society. I used to teach ages ago at a hakwon, and half the staff was gay.
I’d say Dan Thompson and David Hall have their priorities exactly right. Glad to see that the Yongsan Garrison is in such good hands.
DLB
Save haven = Safe Haven?
That used to be on (hetero)Hill. Is it even still there?
There is also “Yobo-Yobo” a transvestite bar where staff have been known to shoot cherry tomatoes out of their a** at patrons. Naturally, I heard this from an indigenous professor here since I don’t do this kind of research.
@r. elgin
Woah woah woah…I’m not gay, but I would actually pay to see a grown man blow a tomato out of his ass.
I needed to find a male stripper for a K-galfriend’s bachelorette a few years back. We walked into Queens, and I asked the bartender, “who’s the best dancer in the place?” He directed me to a guy in the corner, who assured me that he was straight, really, that he even had a wife back home.
He happily auditioned for us then and there. (to Brittney Spears’ “I’m a slave 4u”) We hired him on the spot. One month later, he comes in from Uijongbu to our designated basement coffee/hof near Sookdae, and puts on a great hour long show. I think we paid him 150 bucks. Worth every penny. Total professional.
#2 It makes sense I suppose that people would feel less inclined to fear repercussions for their “alternative” live styles in a foreign country when they can simply return home and leave the past behind ( excuse the pun).
Don’t the MPs also patrol Homo Hill and look in the doors for their “battle buddies?
Question is why gay people can’t be in the Army ?? What popping as many enemy heads as possible has to do with who and how you fuck ?
The British Army has allowed gays since 2000. The US will one day as well, I imagine.
I was talking to these two gay guys who just came back from a business trip in Korea. I said to them, “I’m sorry, must have been a terribly bad experience for you, as Korea is a closed society and not very tolerant towards gays.” And their response were, to the contrary, they had a spectacular time. They said a lot of the local Korean gays with “white boy fetish” were all over them and those 2 guys had a very good time being center of attention. I was very surprised. Of course what was also surprising was the fact that they were very gung-ho republicans. I said to them, “but you are GAYS!!” and their response were, “but we are RICH!”
My gay buddy assures me that all the gay guys know that the “hot” male dancers/drink servers in gay bars/clubs are straight.
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