Hong Seok Cheon: Being banned for coming out because of his sexuality and going beyond "hell"

Regain the glory after being rejected for being openly gay, becoming a standard for people of the 3rd gender, so that society and the community gradually have a more sympathetic view of homosexuals. It's the story of Hong Seok Cheon's life

Regain the glory after being rejected for being openly gay, becoming a standard for people of the 3rd gender, so that society and the community gradually have a more sympathetic view of homosexuals. It is the life story of Hong Seok Cheon, he was born in 1971, started his entertainment career as a male model, he first appeared on television in 1994 as a reporter. Hong Seok Cheon made a mark with his liberal personality, natural leadership and quickly won the hearts of the audience.

Hong Seok Cheon then has a thriving career in many parts of Korean television, he also appeared on many game shows, variety shows as well as sitcoms and dramas. However, storms hit Seok Cheon's life in 2000.

Open sex and the days of living in hell

In 2000, Hong Seok Cheon was asked a "half-joking" question on a variety show about gender issues. He did not hesitate to admit that he is a third gender. The show's producer then edited it to avoid controversy.

However, a journalist got that information and reported it immediately, forcing him to admit what he said on the show. The incident spread at breakneck speed in many newspapers, Seok Cheon was fired from the TV shows he was participating in, canceled all advertising contracts as well as cut roles on the movies he was participating in. At that time, he was at the peak of his career.

In Korea, the third issue of sexism is still a painful and sensitive issue. The old prejudices still seem to be deeply ingrained in the Korean people's conception, human outlook and culture.

Although Korea is a developed country, it has direct contact with European culture, especially America. However, the acceptance of homosexuals still has too many barriers, especially in the 2000s. That is why Hong Seok Cheon's openly gay response at that time was met with backlash.

The climax was when Hong Seok Cheon's parents found out. About 3 years ago when the news flooded the newspapers, Seok Cheon told his sister and the two sisters agreed not to let their parents know. "Let's keep it a secret until they die," Seok Cheon's sister said in tears.

But the incident could not be hidden from Seok Cheon's parents, they discovered and their reaction made him fall into the abyss of suffering. His parents wanted the whole family to take poison and die together, because it was too embarrassing, because they couldn't accept the fact that their son couldn't date and marry a woman. They were rural people, living in the countryside, the news to them was nothing more than a fatal blow.

Hong Seok Cheon faces massive stigma after becoming the first openly gay celebrity in South Korea. He later wrote the memoir My Heart Still Throbs for Forget Love recounting his broken but failed romance with a Dutch man named Tony.

When forced to leave the entertainment industry, Hong Seok Cheon intended to leave the country to settle in Europe. However, in the end he decided to stay and prove to the racists that he would succeed, he would make everyone admire. He chose the business path by opening his first restaurant called Our Place in 2002.

Become the most sought after "gay" guy in Korea

Hong Seok Cheon is not the only artist to reveal his gender in Korean showbiz, after him there are also many people who bravely admit their true gender but can't persevere until the day of "picking fruit" like Seok Cheon.

On October 6, 2008, a heartbreaking incident that shook Korean showbiz happened when actor and model Kim Ji Hoo gave up his life due to depression and tremendous pressure after admitting that he is a person of the third gender. The body of the then 23-year-old star was discovered by police at his apartment in Jamsil on the same day.

So you know, how strict public opinion was with gay people at that time, and broadcasters also didn't dare to cooperate with gay artists because they avoided being reacted and ostracized by the audience. That's why Seok Cheon chose the business path to start over.

Hong Seok Cheon's efforts finally paid off. He became an entrepreneur and currently owns 9 high-class restaurants in Itaewon - where there is a large expat community in Seoul. The restaurant chains all have names that start with the word "My": My Hong, My Chi chi's, My Thai, My Thai China, My X, My Chelsea, My Noodle, and My Suji. In the 2015 Taxi show, Hong Seok Cheon revealed that the annual revenue of this restaurant chain is up to 5-7 billion KRW.

In 2004, Seok Cheon decided to join the Democratic Labor Party and was voted Asian Hero of the Year by Time magazine. He was invited to return to talk shows, becoming an inspiration to young people. His talent is already recognized, he was invited to play the lead role in the movie Puzzle (2006).

Success after success, Hong Seok Cheon founded an online shopping center called Ne2Nom in 2007, and became a professor at Korea National University of Arts, teaching in the field of broadcast content production. (2010) and Fashion Art (2011).

In 2015, Hong Seok Cheon announced that he intends to run for the position of chief of Yongsan district office in the 2018 local election. The reason is that he has lived in Yongsan district for more than 10 years, does he look forward to promoting? cultural space for young artists and small businesses, while providing welfare for minorities. If successful, Seok Cheon will be the first gay person in the political system of Korea.

Great personality

Hong Seok Cheon's private life is also clean of scandals. Her older sister divorced, Seok Cheon adopted her 2 children and changed their last names to her own. In 2008, Seok Cheon had his own Talkshow in which he talked about homosexuality. Despite the stigma and conservatism of Korean society, Hong Seok Cheon overcame the "brick and stone" of the public and was gradually accepted.

In May 2020, the Covid-19 outbreak broke out in many gay bars in Itaewon, the name Hong Seok Cheon was "called" again because his restaurants are all in this area. Immediately, Seok Cheon called and encouraged gay people to join the fun at Itaewon to get tested and tested for public health.

Seok Cheon's post on Instagram received many positive reactions. In the Korean LGBT community, Seok Cheon's voice has a lot of weight, so his actions help a lot in finding and locating the epidemic.

Besides, Seok Cheon announced the closure of the restaurant in Itaewon area after 12 years of operation to prevent the epidemic, and also urged people to pay attention to their safety and health.

Hong Seok Cheon also responded to the campaign to revive the economy by reducing rent for restaurant owners, who have been severely affected economically by COVID-19, creating conditions for young people who want to practice their business. Starting a business but lacking capital has the opportunity to come to his shop to practice doing business.

Hong Seok Cheon is a person who brings hope to the Korean LGBT community as well as a source of optimism for those who are facing inequality as a gay person.

After Hong Seok Cheon, male singer Holland also admitted he was gay. Although he is a male singer with many fangirls, he gave up and accepted public opinion pointing towards him. However, after he dared to declare that he was a third sex, instead of hating many people, he gave him more special affection. All of this proves that the Korean entertainment market's perspective has gradually changed as their awareness of the LGBT community is more open. There is nothing more beautiful and humane than being free and living your true self.

Up to the present time, Hong Seok Cheon has become a monument of fighting for the rights of the LGBT community. The journey from actor forced to retire to Korea's first gay politician, Hong Seok Cheon surprised the audience with his energy and determination.

Today's Hong Seok Cheon has reached the age of 50, rich and famous, he has proven his ability and lived his own faith, overcoming all the detractors of society.

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