Seoul's LGBT festival blocked by Christian concert outside city hall, organisers say

FILE PHOTO: Participants wave a rainbow flag as they march on a street during the Korea Queer Culture Festival 2022 in central Seoul, South Korea, July 16, 2022. REUTERS/ Heo Ran/File Photo

SEOUL (Reuters) - Seoul's city government has effectively blocked South Korea’s largest annual LGBT festival from taking place outside city hall this year after granting a permit for a Christian youth concert instead, the LGBT event’s organisers said this week.

Clashes over the Seoul Queer Culture Festival have become a yearly symbol of the battle for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer rights in a country where same-sex marriage is not recognised and efforts to pass anti-discrimination laws face strong resistance from conservative religious groups and others.