“XO, Kitty” Doesn’t Get Queerness in Korea Quite Right — but It’s a Step Forward

South Korean pop tradition has been taking the earth by storm. Just acquire a glimpse at Netflix, in which Korean shows like “Squid Match” have been fascinating audiences around the world. Irrespective of whether it really is heart-fluttering romances, intensely suspenseful flicks, or displays with thought-provoking social commentary, these Netflix picks have struck a chord and disclosed a lot more about what Korean culture actually appears to be like to a world-wide viewers.

Enter: “XO, Kitty,” a spinoff of Jenny Han’s wildly thriving “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Ahead of.” A mix of rom-com, teenager drama, and a sprinkle of “K-fantasy” — with some catchy K-pop tunes in the background — the present is unquestionably meant to attraction to K-pop and K-drama supporters all about the planet. The clearly show also tackles important social concerns, specifically in relation to LGBTQ+ legal rights in Korean modern society.

Viewers get to take a deep dive into the everyday living of Kitty, Lara Jean’s youthful sister in “To All the Boys I have Cherished.” Kitty decides to show up at an elite international school in Seoul to reunite with her boyfriend, Dae, whom she fell in adore with at initial sight for the duration of her visit to South Korea. But as she receives to the nation, she discovers a entire bunch of sudden stuff about her boyfriend, her mother . . . and even her personal sexuality.

Two of the most important people, Yuri and Q, are homosexual, and as part of the principal plot, Yuri stands up against her mother, who does not approve of her sexuality (a disapproval that is “ordinary” in Korean society). The biggest plot twist could be that Kitty “suddenly” feels attracted to Yuri. For world supporters, this might not be a major offer, but for a lot of Korean viewers, it can be very stunning.

As anyone who grew up in South Korea and has been engaged in LGBTQ+ legal rights motion for fairly some time, I come across “XO, Kitty” to be really darn queer — not just in conditions of its plot or characters, but also in its portrayal of the point out of LGBTQ+ rights in Korean culture.

When Q says that “Seoul isn’t really accurately homosexual pleasant in contrast to the U.S.,” very well, let’s just say it truly is not just Seoul — it is all of Korea. And enable me inform you, the lived truth of queer people is a lot harder than what you see in this cute, K-fantastical demonstrate. It can be considerably even worse than what “XO, Kitty” can seize.

LGBTQ+ rights have come a lengthy way in South Korea, but you can find however considerably get the job done to be done. Shockingly, gay marriage remains unlawful, and an anti-discrimination monthly bill, very similar to the Equality Act in the U.S., has been stuck in Congress for in excess of a ten years with rarely any one displaying assist for it. In the armed service, acceptance and knowing feel considerably from attainable. The case of the initial “formal” transgender soldier who was discharged from the navy for undergoing gender reassignment operation is a obvious example. Irrespective of her braveness and dedication to provide her state, she faced severe criticism and discrimination from the government and society and was in the long run denied reinstatement. Regrettably, her tale ended in tragedy with her dying previous 12 months, which highlights the dire outcomes of a modern society that even now struggles with embracing range.

What is actually even far more disheartening is the surge in homophobia that has emerged in modern decades. As an organizer of the once-a-year Seoul Pleasure Parade, I have witnessed firsthand the mounting opposition we facial area. The two in 2018 and 2020, far more than two million persons signed the National Petition to ban the parade. The governing administration responded by building it difficult for us to get the required permission to keep the Pride Parade, using all kinds of excuses to attempt to shut us down. Final 12 months, the govt begrudgingly allowed the Delight Parade to just take put but with the “problem” that there be no “indecent publicity” by the members. Even so, this yr, they went as considerably as canceling the Pride Parade and providing the location to a Christian youth group in its place.

Discussion of LGBTQ+ identities is also limited in public, and that contains in pop lifestyle. I highly doubt you’ve seen additional than a handful of K-dramas that includes LGBTQ+ figures. Not to point out, overtly queer K-pop idols or actors are virtually nonexistent. Indeed, there is Hong Seok Cheon, an actor who bravely came out in 2000, but his journey was not without effects. He faced extreme backlash, getting fired from all of his television shows and systems and enduring a long time of a skilled hiatus. Even now, he stays “the only” outstanding homosexual actor in South Korea.

Incorporating insult to injuries, just just lately, the Incheon Women’s Film Festival Organizing Committee disclosed that the Incheon Metropolis authorities attempted to exert stress to prohibit the screening of LGBTQ+ themed flicks. So, in the situation of “XO, Kitty,” discovering another person like Q in Korea who is brazenly queer is like hunting for a needle in a haystack. Even for me, most of my queer friends are those I’ve met by my perform at Delight. And even lots of of them are nonetheless in the closet to culture, going through the everyday battle of hiding their genuine selves.

Certain, LGBTQ+ visibility is bit by bit growing in both K-pop and K-dramas. We see idols proudly holding up Pleasure flags during their world excursions, dropping delicate hints of queerness in their songs, and giving interviews that seem to be to support LGBTQ+ admirers. It is really no question global K-pop followers celebrate these moments. But this is the kicker: when these idols return to Korea, you will not listen to a peep about it in the nearby media or from the stars on their own.

Which is why I believe that regardless of not entirely reflecting the truth on the ground, “XO, Kitty” marks a sizeable step in the journey in direction of advancing LGBTQ+ rights in South Korea. It shines a spotlight on the struggles faced by the LGBTQ+ group, redirecting worldwide attention to the point out of queer legal rights in Korea. But extra importantly, I hope it serves as a wake-up contact for Koreans, exhibiting them what the intercontinental common is when it comes to LGBTQ+ legal rights, and that quite a few global viewers would like to see far more of these queer portrayals from South Korean pop society.

Over all, I hope “XO, Kitty” acts as a reminder to both equally South Koreans and global fans that in spite of its growing world star, South Korea however has deep-rooted problems that want interest and adjust.

So, when you indulge in your preferred K-dramas or dance along to those people infectious K-pop beats, make sure you keep in mind that the fight for acceptance and equality continues in Korea. We need to use our voices to guidance and uplift these combating for acceptance and equality, both of those inside of the business and in culture at significant.