Georgia State University ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University Anthropology Theses Department of Anthropology Spring 5-6-2012 The Promise of Gayness: Queers and Kin in South Korea Timothy Gitzen Georgia State University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/anthro_theses Recommended Citation Gitzen, Timothy, "The Promise of Gayness: Queers and Kin in South Korea." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2012. https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/anthro_theses/57 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Anthropology at ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Anthropology Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE PROMISE OF GAYNESS: QUEERS AND KIN IN SOUTH KOREA by TIMOTHY GITZEN Under the Direction of Jennifer Patico ABSTRACT This thesis examines whether the interrelationship of family and gay identity in South Korea is best understood as one of conflict, pitting a traditional, national, and filial constraint against a presumed global, progressive, and individualistic freedom, or whether it requires (or perhaps, in the narratives themselves, already provides) a different, more recursive understanding. This the- sis explores the recursivity between gay identity and filial piety among college students in con- temporary Korea while also providing a critique of a global gay paradigm that others may argue infiltrates Korean gay discourse. The aim of this ethnography is not just to collect the stories that these young South Korean college men tell about their experiences of being gay and a son, but to trace how my position as a researcher and a friend are shaped by my experiences with other gay Korean men and how those positions are intimately tied to this ethnography as a whole. INDEX WORDS: Gay/lesbian studies, Kinship, South Korea, Personhood, Narratives, Affect THE PROMISE OF GAYNESS: QUEERS AND KIN IN SOUTH KOREA by TIMOTHY GITZEN A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in the College of Arts and Sciences Georgia State University 2012 Copyright by Timothy Gitzen 2012 THE PROMISE OF GAYNESS: QUEERS AND KIN IN SOUTH KOREA by TIMOTHY GITZEN Committee Chair: Jennifer Patico Committee: Emanuela Guano Megan Sinnott Susan Talburt Electronic Version Approved: Office of Graduate Studies College of Arts and Sciences Georgia State University May 2012 iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS What began as a seminar paper written at the conference table of the Papers, Essays and Reviews office in 2009 while a student in South Korea, surrounded by Judy, Michel, Pierre, and a deluge of books and articles I could barely comprehend, has culminated in this massive, seemingly amorphous project. I would be lying if I swore that my intention was never to write this much, but with the vast amount of information I had collected over the years it was inevitable that this thesis would be this long. But if it were not for my advisor, Jennifer Patico, it could have cer- tainly been longer and much more scattered, unpolished, and simply unsophisticated. I’ve had dedicated advisors in the past—Julia Bullock at Emory University is still someone I aspire to be like—but none have had both the patience and brilliance that Jennifer has provided in my short time at Georgia State University. From the conference abstracts, IRB proposal, and possible publications to the graduate school application essays and several drafts of this thesis, she has read each with not only a keen eye for detail and significance, but has also brought to each revi- sion and discussion theoretical insight and curiosity that challenged me to read more, think more, and know more. I can only imagine what she had first thought when I emailed her two years ago with interest in the program and with working with her—Jennifer an established feminist anthro- pologist of Russia and I a pop culture turned queer studies novice focused on Korea. But through it all she has helped me with a smile, in writing, teaching and simply thinking. I am eternally grateful. I had to be unconventional and enlist four committee members, simply because I loved the classes I took with each and loved the way they thought and interacted with me. Emanuela Guano, Megan Sinnott, and Susan Talburt have each taught me so much in their own respect, v from articulating knowledge and methodological nuances to theoretical savvy and writing tech- niques. I am pleased that each agreed to take part in my committee because I know that each will bring to the table a unique voice, a powerful presence, and a discussion unlike the others. The Department of Anthropology has been so very kind and generous to me these past two years. Marty and Adrienne have served not only as czars of university knowledge writ large, but friends and confidants whenever I needed—and both will no doubt attest, I needed quite a bit quite often. Kathryn Koziatis is still one of the most poised and captivating women I have ever had the pleasure to not only meet but work with, have as an instructor, and a professional mentor. Her encouragement coupled with the positive reinforcement from Jennifer has made my time in this department not only memorable, but academically riveting and exhausting. I’ve only begun to test my limits and knowledge, and this department has opened that Pandora’s Box, never to be closed again. Emotional support is always important. Kristen Kuhns and I started on day one, the two of us sitting at the table in the kitchen eating lunch together and talking as if we knew we would be friends for the rest of our lives. Though the rest of my life is still a ways off, her and I have stuck by each other in this department and continue to provide the support we both need. Ally- son Korb has also given so much and asked for so little in return. She has kept me grounded, while not inflating my ego too much, but has always been a motivating factor through this expe- rience. I have experienced much in the past two years, all the while trying to figure out this pro- ject and my own life. I was given the opportunity in the summer of 2011 to teach my first col- lege class—Introduction to Cultural Anthropology—and develop the class from the ground up. It was no doubt tough and frustrating at times, but I knew from the first day in the classroom that vi this was what I am meant to do for the rest of my life. Only days after the classes ended I was on a plane to Seoul to conduct research for this project, and while there I was reminded of the other joys of my life. Could there be any better profession than professor? This is thesis number three, and I’d like to think I’m getting the hang of it, but they all have presented difficulties. Yet through each one, and interestingly enough mentioned in each thesis, two ladies have stood by me with love and support like no other. Beck, no one else can make me laugh the way you do, and no one else can make me feel as special as you do. Talking to you is as natural as tying my shoe or drinking tea. We have known each other for so long now and through our countless conversations, my trips to Japan to visit you and your trips to Korea to visit me, I’ve come to realize that we have a lifetime ahead of us. Siobhain, you were the kick- ass editor of my first two theses, but this time I thought I’d give you a break. You are brilliant, it is as simple as that, and whatever you decide to do in life you will be brilliant at it. I love you dearly, but you already know that. Finally, it may go without saying, but this thesis would be nothing if it were not for the members of Come Together and my five friends who have not only been amazing informants but more importantly, life-changing friends. To my boys—Donghae, Changmin, Kibum, Jaejoong, and Yoochun—you each know how I feel about you and what you have given me over the years of our friendships. However, I dedicate this thesis, this gigantic body of research, to Changmin and Donghae. Both of you have transformed me in ways not even you two are aware of, teach- ing me not only what it means to be a friend but what it means to be gay. I would have never been able to do what I did in Korea and here in Atlanta without you, and for that I will forever be grateful. You both are smart, sexy and have amazing futures ahead. What say we take the jour- ney together? vii NOTE ON ROMANIZATION All Korean words that have been romanized in this thesis follow the McCune-Reischauer rules and formatting for romanized Korean. The McCune-Reischauer system is the most widely used romanization system for the Korean language outside of South Korea, predominately used by academics outside of Korea. There are two exceptions to the use of this system. All Korean names follow the romanization designated by the individual—authors’ names, informants, and historical figures. In the case of informants, I romanized the names based on two factors: 1) the most common form of romanization for the name and 2) approval from my actual informants (as all names have been changed for the purpose of anonymity). Secondly, places in South Korea follow the romanization given to the name by the Korean government.