Promises by the magazine to hold the story turned to dust, and the soft-spoken innkeeper's son was soon at the centre of a furious public debate. He had to tell his parents before the news broke. I spent that entire night crying. Hong's stand has made him a figurehead for Korea's still largely closeted gay and lesbian community, which badly needs a hero. Korea is ultraconservative on matters of the flesh, and homosexuality is taboo.
Society places heavy emphasis on a son's duty to marry to perpetuate the family name.
Homosexuality is viewed as immoral by many, as a disease by some. It is not outlawed, but homosexuals are not encouraged to stand out from the crowd. Seo would know. He was nearly kicked out of the elite Yonsei University a few years ago for organizing a support group for gay and lesbian students. In 1997 he tried to convene a gay film festival, but local authorities cut off the electricity.