The Seoul Metropolitan Government has recently decided to disallow the use of Seoul Plaza for the 'Seoul Queer Culture Festival,' which was scheduled to be held from late June to early July. This decision marks the first time in eight years that the Plaza will not be used for the festival, which has been held there annually since 2015, except for the past two years when it was held online due to the pandemic.

On May 3, the Seoul Metropolitan Government held a Citizens' Committee for Open Plaza Operation to review and decide on the application for the use of Seoul Plaza made by the Seoul Queer Culture Festival Organizing Committee. The committee announced on May 4 that the application was denied.

The Queer Festival, Korea's first-ever gay and lesbian event, has taken place annually since 2000. The festival was first held at Seoul Plaza in 2015 and has been hosted there six times, excluding the past two years. In 2020, the festival went virtual, drawing around 13,000 participants, with US Ambassador to Korea Philip Goldberg also attending the event.

The Queer Festival Organizing Committee has voiced their opposition to the recent decision, asserting that it is a result of unjust intervention by the city of Seoul and pressure from hate groups targeting sexual minorities. Despite this setback, the committee has announced that the Seoul Queer Parade will proceed as planned on July 1, and they will strive to secure an alternative venue for the festival.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has stated that their decision was "legally made in accordance with the relevant ordinance." On April 3, the Queer Festival Organizing Committee submitted an application to use Seoul Plaza from June 30 to July 1, but another application for the same Plaza was submitted at the same time for a 'recovery concert for youth and young people' organized by CTS Cultural Foundation, which is a Christian organization.