A street advertisement for a gay matchmaking application was removed scarcely four days after its launch following multiple objections. The ad, mounted on a large screen in the bustling Nonhyeon-dong district in Gangnam, went live on August 26 and was halted on August 30 following protests lodged with the Gangnam Ward government. The company had signed a one year contract to air the ad over 100 times daily, a commitment that has gone awry and led to considerable frustration for the firm.
The action taken to suspend the ad gives insight into societal attitudes towards homosexuality in South Korea, even in 2024, suggesting that there might still be considerable resistance to such overt displays related to LGBT communities. This event underpins the evolving and often controversial climate surrounding this issue in Korean society.
The street advertisement featured visual portrayals of homosexual relationships. Images of gay and lesbian partners observing each other, canoodling and embracing were displayed on the giant screens. Rather than this unique expression of love, the application advertisement now showcases an alternate product from the same company.
The company has voiced significant disappointment over the proceedings. “We committed a significant resource to acquire the licensing contract for the app’s operation in the country, but it feels like our efforts have hit a brick wall,” lamented the company’s Chief Executive Officer. He expressed surprise at the lack of support for a project related to the sexual minorities in this day and age, saying “We never expected our initiative focused on sexual minorities to be handled so callously in 2024.” (Yonhap)
