Gay men in South Korea are being hunted on dating apps

A second wave of coronavirus in South Korea linked to gay clubs is fuelling a horrifying rise in homophobia that has seen LGBTs on dating sites threatened with doxing.

The rise in cases came as South Korea began to ease its social distancing restrictions after an extensive testing, tracing and quarantine regime that flattened the coronavirus curve within weeks.

On Sunday health officials reported 35 new infections, the highest number in more than a month. Twenty-nine of these have been linked to nightclubs and bars in the Itaewon neighbourhood of Seoul, many of which were LGBT spaces.

At least 14 people may have been infected by a single man in his late 20s who had no symptoms at the time.

The spike in coronavirus cases has thrust South Korea’s gay scene into the spotlight – a terrifying prospect in a country where LGBT discrimination runs rampant and many choose to keep their sexuality a secret from friends and family.

Officials have tested more than 2,450 people who attended the clubs and bars but are still searching for 3,000 people who may be infected.  Many queer people have avoided efforts at contact tracing because they fear being outed against their will.

Source: PinkNews

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