"It’s not personal, it’s strictly business”
– Michael Corleone of The Godfather
While Seoul’s doors to tolerance are slowly opening, especially after the city’s biggest Pride events that took over City Hall last summer, navigating everyday life at work as an LGBTQ person in Korea can be a double-edged sword. But for some, there’s no difference. Opinions vary in workplace etiquette, from leaving your personal life at home to owning to your identity. But there's no denying that in a country with the second-longest working hours among OECD nations, most of our waking lives are spent laboring away, and exchanging personal innocuous details earn you points for teamwork, trust and affability. That said, it’s not easy to keep those personal and work domains completely separate. As for me, I’m not out at my office. As long as I produce results, I’ve always left personal matters at home, including the fact that I’m in a long-term, same-sex relationship. I simply choose not to disclose my details. What did I do on the weekend? I read. Do I have a boyfriend? No. This laconic approach isn’t ideal, but it’s been working so far. Here are stories from those who work in different industries—from hotels, physical education and gaming to business and editorials.
