Yun Hyon-seok

Yun Hyon-seok (; August 7, 1984 – April 26, 2003 ) was a South Korean LGBT poet, writer, and activist. He wrote under the pen names Yuk Wu-dang (, , home of six friends) and Seolheon , and was also known by his nickname Midong (, beautiful boy) or Donghwa (, Boy flower).

Yun spent most of his life being excluded, bullied, and discriminated against for being gay.

Early life Yun was born in 1984 in Bupyong, Incheon to two teachers, both of whom were devout Roman Catholics. He was baptised with the name "Antonio". He faced homophobia , including on the internet, and became increasingly isolated, something he documented in his journal. He began self-medicating with tranquilisers, sleeping pills, alcohol, and cigarettes. which also means "six friends." It became his most-used pseudonym. Despite facing constant homophobia, including from his family, who attempted to pressure him into being heterosexual, he wrote in October 2002: "I do not think I'm abnormal... This road exists as also another road exists. Most persons use the well-worn path, but I have to go on a lone desolate path." He also used the name Seolheon in honor of the pre-modern Korean poet Heo Nanseolheon.

Activism He participated in media censorship-opposition movements, particularly those that argued that exposure to homosexuality was harmful to children. He also attended anti-war and pro-peace rallies in the Jongno District, including in opposition to Korean troops being sent overseas to serve in the Iraq War.

As a Catholic, Yun worked to emphasise that denying acceptance to homosexual Christians, who are "children of God", goes against the Bible's teachings, and that homosexuality is not a mental illness.

On April 2, 2003, the South Korean National Human Rights Commission of Korea made a formal announcement that the country's LGBT and LGBT-related media censorship was a human rights abuse. Some conservative Christians groups demanded that the Commission withdraw the statement. Yun publicly criticized the church's stance in an article in Hangyeorye on April 13, using his real name, before deciding to withdraw from Catholic society entirely. He rescinded this decision within two days and returned to praying daily for the discrimination against homosexual people to end. The letter concluded with: '"I believe My Father God will accept me!" He bequeathed ₩340,000 and his rosary beads to Solidarity for LGBT Human Rights of Korea. He died by suicide by hanging on April 26, 2003 at the Dongdaemun in Seoul. He was discovered by a member of the Solidarity for LGBT Human Rights of Korea the following day.

Following his death, the South Korean government began the process to reverse their decision to censor gay media. To commemorate the third anniversary of Yun's death, a book of his poems and prose was published.

Books Yook Woo Dang: 《Let My Spirit Rain Down as Flower Petals》(육우당: 내 혼은 꽃비 되어; 2013) 《Diary of Yook Woo Dang》(육우당일기 六友堂日記, unpublished)