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= LGBTQ+ Neighborhoods in South Korea =

Overview
“Homo Hill” is an LGBTQ+ neighborhood located in the district of Itaewon within the South Korean city of Seoul. “Homo Hill” is often also referred to as “The Hill” and “LGBTQ Street”. This area does not have an official name, and will not be easily found on any tourist guides or maps. The district, Itaewon, in which “Homo Hill” resides is home to a number of minorities living in South Korea.[1] The creation of "Homo Hill" stems from the formation of the entertainment area for U.S. military soldiers during the time of the Korean War.[2] Today, "Homo Hill" is occupied by numerous LGBTQ+ establishments and is considered a safe space for LGBTQ+-identifying individuals.[1] Itaewon, the district located within Seoul, is home to a number of different minority groups, in addition to the LGBTQ+-identifying individuals, in South Korea.[3]



History/Creation
In the creation of modern Itaewon, many of the people who contributed had goals to make this space more liberal than other areas in South Korea that were made by older, more conservative generations.[2]

With the introduction of the Korean War (1950s), U.S. military bases were created in South Korea, and more specifically, in close proximity to modern Itaewon. With the U.S. military base so close by, Itaewon became a recreational space of U.S. soldiers, which sparked an increase in new bars and clubs. In these spaces were also the presence of sex workers, along with the creation of a few gay establishments, which contributed to the deeming of this area as a “sexually contaminated space.”[2]

The name “Homo Hill” is not an official name for the space. In fact, some believe the term “Homo” is derogatory, which explains why a majority of the locals in South Korea refer to the street as either “The Hill” or “LGBTQ Street”. In addition, the terminology behind “Homo Hill” makes it seem to only encompass those who identify as homosexual, thereby excluding the rest of the LGBTQ+-identifying individuals. [3]

What Homo Hill Consists Of
“Homo Hill” is one street, more specifically, a 360-foot alleyway in the Itaewon district. This alleyway consists of approximately 10-15 LGBTQ+ bars, clubs, as well as other establishments. The street is known for their colorful graffiti walls and grounds, as well as their street art that signifies the acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals.[1]



Diversity
The district of Itaewon is very diverse and is home to many minority groups living in South Korea. The way Itaewon is set up with these diverse communities is similar to the ethnic enclaves found in other countries (i.e. Chinatown, Little Italy, etc.).[3] Some of these minorities include Muslims, LGBTQ+ individuals, and Nigerians. Along with “Homo Hill,” Itaewon contains “Islamic Street” which includes two mosques, as well as “African Street” in which the many that belong to the Nigerian community live and socialize. Those in South Korea with more conservative values often stay away from Itaewon due to the rich diversity that exists in this space. [3]

Pages to link to: "gay village"; "itaewon";

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- Military masculinities

- Good source: mentions Homo Hill the most; also goes into the Muslim population in Itaewon