Yun Hyon-seok, South Korean poet and author (b. 1984)
Yun Hyon-seok (Korean: 윤현석; Hanja: 尹賢碩; August 7, 1984 – April 26, 2003) was a South Korean LGBT poet, writer and LGBT activist.
He committed suicide in protest against discrimination against homosexuals in South Korea. During his life, he fought against social discrimination, racism and homophobia.
From the 2000s until his death, he was a controversial figure in the eyes of the public and fought against opponents of homosexuality and homosexual psychopath theorists. Throughout his school years, he had been pushed away from a similar peer group. In December 2002, he planned to leave school in order to attend Seil High School. From 1999 to 2003, he was active in the anti-LGBT discrimination movement, the LGBT rights movement, and homophobia opposition movement. In 2001, he debuted in literary world, involving himself in poetry, writing and columnist activities also, but mainly poetry. He received much discrimination and was the victim of prejudice, because of his sexual identity. In 2002, he joined the Solidarity for LGBT Human Rights of Korea, and was also a peace activist and a conscientious objector to military service. Up until his death, he wrote more poetry and prose, but his work was rejected, as he was gay.
After 2000 he was involved in a LGBT human rights, anti-discrimination, disability rights, and an anti-war peace movement.
On April 26, 2003, Yun drank two Korean distilled spirits and hanged himself, as a result of the homophobia and closed-mindedness in South Korea. Because of his death, obscene words against homosexual and transgender individuals were revoked and protection was somewhat implemented through the South Korean Youth Protection Act (청소년 보호법). He wrote under the pen name Yook Woo Dang (육우당, 六友堂, home of six friends) and Seolheon (설헌, 雪軒) and was also known by his nickname Midong (미동, 美童, beautiful boy) or Donghwa(동화, 童花, Boy flower). His Catholic baptismal name was "Antonio".