Queer Social Exclusion: Fields and Forces in South Korea

Despite existing literature on social exclusion as a multidimensional phenomenon, critical inquiries arise as to whether a single deprivation is sufficient to be phrased as exclusion or if multiple relevant dimensions should be considered for the Queer population. This descriptive phenomenological study aims to understand the essence of contemporary social exclusion while exploring its primary fields and forces as experienced by Queer individuals in the South Korean context. This study recruited 32 self‐identified Queer participants and delved into their lived narratives. Each one‐on‐one interview lasted approximately 90 minutes, using a semi‐structured protocol and applying Giorgi's descriptive phenomenological analytic approach. The findings revealed nine key fields of social exclusion (i.e., Queer communities, mainstream media and cultural representation, politics and religion, etc.), with a permeating force at the center and additional collective forces shaping these exclusions. Drawn from the findings, this study proposed a model of social exclusion for Queer individuals in Korea and examined how social exclusion operates within this context. Discussions on the model's applicability, expansion recommendations, and policy and practical measures were presented in detail.