Power, Disability, and Queerness: Revisioning Minoritized Identities in South Korea

Background and Purpose: In South Korea, the legitimization of discrimination against those historically perceived as having imperfect bodies has entrenched structural inequalities, constantly reproducing and reinforcing marginalization. This has made their struggles for recognition and rights an ongoing necessity. Given the reality, this study examines how dominant ideologies have colonized individuals positioned as minoritized within South Korean society, namely queer and disabled identities. Thus, this qualitative study critically aims to contest the mainstream discourse in South Korean society by focusing on the narratives and experiences of the oppressed. Specifically, the study explores how power structures in South Korea shape and manifest within the languages of forcibly marginalized individuals.

Methods: The study was grounded in structural symbolic interactionism and social constructivism as conceptual and interpretative frameworks. Data were collected in South Korea through July 2024. 1:1 in-depth interviews were conducted, each approximately 60 minutes long. We recruited 9 South Korean adults who identified both as queer and diagnosed with disabilities, all currently residing in South Korea. Participants were all in their 20s and 30s, with the majority (n=6) diagnosed with mental disorders. Others had autistic disorder (n=2) and brain lesion disorder (n=1). Participants’ gender identity mainly was non-binary (n=4), cisgender (n=3), MTF (n=1), and agender (n=1), while their sexual orientation varied across bisexual (n=4), pansexual (n=2), and asexual (n=3). This study employed critical discourse analysis, considering participants’ intersected minority identities as the primary unit of analysis. Thematic and semantic analyses were performed to examine micro and macro-level relations.

Results: Our study (1) revealed the social realities of South Korea, specifically via the lived experiences of those with disabilities and queer identities, (2) examined how these power structures, including cultural ideologies and societal norms, collectively work to shape minoritized identity within the South Korean context, and (3) identified how participants subvert these power structures and reframe dominant discourse by examining their counter-narratives and reinterpreting the meaning of resistance. Each was represented with themes named ‘The reality of South Korean society: examing power structures.’ ‘The influence of power structures on identity,’ and ‘The subversion of power and resistance.’

Conclusions and Implications: The findings revealed that participants’ language simultaneously functioned both as an intersected tool for oppression—reinforcing ableist and heteronormative norms—and a means of liberation. Participants' acts of resistance were performed along a spectrum that mirrored their identities. Overall, our study sheds light on how minoritized individuals in the South Korean cultural context navigate, internalize, and resist dominant norms in their daily interactions, contributing to discussions on power, identity, and agency in this culturally specific setting. Additionally, the study further proposed future research directions and practical implications, emphasizing the need for nation-level measures regarding gender, sexuality, and disability.