Yun Hyon-seok (Korean: 윤현석;Hanja: 尹賢碩; August 7, 1984 – April 26, 2003[2]) was a South KoreanLGBT poet, writer, and activist.[3] He wrote under the pen namesYuk Wu-dang (육우당,[4][5]六友堂,home of six friends) andSeolheon (설헌, 雪軒), and was also known by his nicknameMidong (미동, 美童, beautiful boy) orDonghwa (동화, 童花, Boy flower).[citation needed]
Yun was born in 1984 inBupyong,Incheon to two teachers, both of whom were devoutRoman 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 withtranquilisers, sleeping pills, alcohol, and cigarettes.[6][4]
Yun was dependent ongreen 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 abouthomosexuals being psychopaths.[3]
After leaving school, he moved to theDongdaemun District inSeoul, 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 Koreansocial 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 poetHeo Nanseolheon.[8]
Yun began writing during his adolescence to work through his pain. He often usedsatire in his poems and prose and wrote at length aboutcensorship in South Korea, prejudice, disappointment,conservatism, and outdatedsocial norms.[citation needed] Yun joined the DSijo and WSijo 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 inGangnam-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 organisationSolidarity for LGBT Human Rights of Korea after more than two years of volunteer work and participation.[9][3][16]
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 theJongno District, including in opposition to Korean troops being sent overseas to serve in theIraq War.[4][3] In April 2003, he became aconscientious 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 indisability rights andsex worker rights movements.[citation needed] He was outspoken against the theory that homosexual people werevectors 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 amental illness.[10][18]
On April 2, 2003, theSouth KoreanNational Human Rights Commission of Korea made a formal announcement that the country's LGBT and LGBT-related media censorship was ahuman 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 inHangyeorye 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]
On April 24, 2003, Yun wrote a six-pagesuicide 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 bysuicide by hanging on April 26, 2003 at theDongdaemun inSeoul.[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 tocensor 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 theYookwoodang Literary Award in his honor.[30]
^""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. Retrieved2016-05-13.2003년 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.
^""주님, 육우당 형제의 눈물을 닦아주소서"" [Lord, please wipe away Brother Yuk Woo-dang’s tears.].Catholic News. April 26, 2013.
^ab"한 동성애자의 죽음을 통한 절규" [A cry over the death of a homosexual] (in Korean). Sarangbang. April 29, 2003. Archived fromthe original on 2014-01-05.
^ab"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.
^"지상에 천국을 일군 한 동성애인의 꿈" [The dream of a homosexual who created heaven on earth] (in Korean). Hangyeorye. May 21, 2013. RetrievedDecember 2, 2023.
^"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. RetrievedDecember 2, 2023.
^"또 한 명의 게이가 자살하기를 바라는 건가" [Do you want another gay person to commit suicide?] (in Korean). mediaus. November 2, 2010.
^ab"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.
^"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.
^abc""내 혼은 꽃비 되어"" [“My soul becomes a rain of flowers”] The true world] (in Korean). Newshcma. April 26, 2006.
^"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.
