Tragedy befalls Jeju’s LGBTQ community | Episode #3

In this week's episode of Me, You and Jeju, Darryl Coote and Alexis Oesterle discuss the passing of Kim Ki-hong, a transgender activist and politician on Jeju Island. 

Ki-hong organized the Jeju Queer Festival, ran as a politician for the Green Party and was an outspoken activist for LGBTQ+ rights not only on the island but in Korea. Ze died by suicide two weeks ago and his passing has been felt throughout the nation.

However, Ki-hong was one of three members of South Korea's transgender community to die by suicide in the past few weeks, and Seoul-based freelance journalist Raphael Rashid sat down with Darryl and Alexis to discuss issues currently affecting this marginalized group.

For those wishing to make a donation to the Jeju Queer Festival in Ki-hong's name, either reach out to the podcast at meyouandjeju@gmail.com or it can be directly deposited to NH/농협 301-0235-1482-11 (제주퀴어문화축제 조직위원회). For those outside Korea, money can be sent via PayPal to alexisoesterle@gmail.com. 

"[The Jeju Queer Festival] was Ze’s passion and was started by sheer guts and grit," Alexis said.

During the podcast, Darryl and Alexis also discuss the history of Jeju's famed Hallabong, the Jeju Fire Festival, Jeju United's season kicks off and the National Assembly in Seoul passing an amendment to the Jeju 4.3 Special Law. 

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