How Trans friendly is South Korea?

[AnamethatstartswithE]

There is a possibility that I will be going to Daejon for work in June. At that point I will be at 10 months HRT. I hope I am out by then, but am worried if I'm not passable that things will go wrong. I don't want to worry about being arrested going to the bathroom. Also I assume it would be best if all of my IDs match up, which puts a bit of a hard date on getting everything changed. I've tried googling around and I get a lot of LGBT stuff, but it seems mainly geared towards being gay, not trans.

I hate being trans.

[Jessica]

Ask Kendra.  She can tell you.

[krobinson103]

I lived there for 14 years. One of the reasons I didn't transition earlier is that they are... old fashioned. As a non Korean you stand out and get stares all the time. As a trans non Korean? I think you may not enjoy it. I'm also married to a Korean and She is adamant that being trans there is considered to be bad.

[Kendra]

Many people here know Korea much better than I do.  I visited Seoul several dozen times on business until 3 years ago but I was not transitioning at the time.  I've been to a few other areas of Korea but not Daejon. 

In 1992 I thought I was going to get assaulted on the Seoul subway - I was presenting as a male with shoulder-length hair.  An older gentleman (I'm using that term loosely) started shouting at me, I could see the veins in his neck from pure anger.  I hadn't said a word, just minding my own business but not looking like a male is supposed to look.  That was a quarter century ago so I don't want to over-emphasize that experience, much like the USA 50 years ago wasn't exactly the same as today.

As for advice on transgender, I'll know more a week from now when I am getting VFS surgery in Seoul.  I don't expect any problems and I plan to buy a Korail unlimited train pass to go explore the country - I'll be there for 10 days. 

For advice on Korea we should also check with Barbie. 

[warlockmaker]

The majority of the Koreans are conservative christians and as such have adopted much of the conservative christian views. Its a country that prizes beauty, cosmetic surgery, hair coloring etc. is common. A tg that passes will have no problems but if you dont pass you will face ridicule and verbal abuse mostly in a language you dont understand.

[AnamethatstartswithE]

The majority of the Koreans are conservative christians and as such have adopted much of the conservative christian views. Its a country that prizes beauty, cosmetic surgery, hair coloring etc. is common. A tg that passes will have no problems but if you dont pass you will face ridicule and verbal abuse mostly in a language you dont understand.

So long as its verbal I don't think it would be a problem. I'm more concerned about physical safety, and the bathroom police. This would be a scientific workshop for several days, so I wouldn't be able to just hold it. Also is it like Japan where they ask you what gender you are when making hotel reservations?

[barbie]

Kendra guided me here.

I am a frequent traveler, showing my ID and getting security in the airport at least 10 times per  month. Nobody has yet asked me a single question. Basically, S. Korea is one of the safest countries in the world. I can walk alone with high heels in the street during the mid-night.

People here are busy caring for their own business, especially young people, and do not care about whatever others wear. You will see that everybody is watching the smartphone screen, instead of you.

Yes. There are a few, very-old people who like to cause problems. Just ignoring them is the best way. Also, just ignore a few mindless fundamental Christians if you ever face them. In any society, there are gadflies. Most Koreans are not so much judgmental compared with North Americans or Europeans. The major religion here is Buddhism, not Judo-Christian.

Daejon is a rather quiet city, but still it is big. People there are less stylish than Seoul people, and may pay attention to you far more than in Seoul.

And I do not think this will ever happen, but just for caution: in S. Korea, any kind of physical violence is strictly forbidden, even it is for self-defense.

Ref.:
https://www.->-bleeped-<-.com/r/korea/comments/6nv2i4/do_foreigners_really_get_deported_for_fighting_in/

barbie~~

[SadieBlake]

S Korea is marked by a very rapid pace of change. So while I've experienced trans and homophobia from a 40 yo Korean woman who used to be a friend and chose to sever ties, the few younger Koreans I've known are more accepting.

For a conference I'd assume you'll be among a mix of older and younger and if you can't easily pass in your shoes I'd attend DRAB for that time. However we all have different sources of dysphoria and so you will choose to do what you must. I would be most concerned about bathrooms.

If you have colleagues there or perhaps if you spoke to the conference organizers that might be the best source of information?

[warlockmaker]

I have experience with Korean men as we have various business interests in S Korea. As others have mentioned the younger generation in Soeul dont really care. However, if you dont pass, I dont recommend going out late at night alone and when visiting smaller towns whose attitude are not as liberal.

Its a fact that well over 50 % are Christians and estimates have gone as has 70%. Thus the attitudes of middle age men and women are not the same as the younger generation. And very Christian conservative. The buddhist are now a minority.

Bathroom laws. I really suggest that you check this out fully if you are not post op. The police are very rigid in enforcing the law with no exception. 

[barbie]

In my case, I mostly use women's bathroom in public. But, if you worry about it, you can use the bathroom for handicapped people. Most public restrooms have it in both men's and women's. And, you need to press a button to open or close the sliding door of the bathroom for handicapped people. I also frequently uses it, as other bathrooms can be crowded. For other private bathrooms as in restaurants, you can choose either, as each bathroom is occupied by just one person. This is the same for trains and airplanes.


http://stokkesk.weebly.com/data-graphs--country-profile.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_South_Korea

Even those Christians here in Korea are under influence of Buddhism and shamanism.

https://culteducation.com/group/1279-yoido-full-gospel/22504-shamanistic-influences-in-korean-pentecostal-christianity-an-analysis.html

https://omtimes.com/2013/01/korean-shamanism/

To my eyes, most pastors here are a kind of  shaman. In my case, my official religion is "None" (atheistic), but I tend to like Buddhism and shamanism together. And, I can say that both Buddhism and Christian are also under heavy influence of shamanism (koreanized). There is a very low chance that religion can be involved (a few Christians do have protesting rally against events for supporting LGBT).

S. Korea is a decade behind in educating people regarding LGBT compared with Canada or west European countries, but in Korean history, there has never been a single religious war, except the recent conflicts caused by some fundamental Christians, which are also hated (or criticized) by most Koreans here.

But you are not visiting Korea for arguing about LGBT issues, and it is rather irrelevant. For other information on visiting Korea, there have been numerous tips and discussions provided here at Susan's under the section "Transitioning » Voice Therapy and Surgery » Topic:  Yeson Voice Feminization Surgery". For example: https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,216891.0.html

barbie~~

[Deborah]

My info may be dated but when I lived in Korea I never felt unsafe anywhere. My wife, who is Korean, was only robbed once and that was by an American near an Army Camp. 

While it wasn't trans related, I was verbally accosted for some unknown reason by a Korean man once in an area in Seoul where there weren't any other Americans.  Even that time though a Korean businessman quickly ran up, chased the man off, and apologized to me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Kendra]

I've been in South Korea this past week - including several smaller towns.  No problems.
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,234768.20/topicseen.html