About
About Me
Hello. I'm Heezy Yang. I'm a Seoul-born queer artist and activist. I have been active in the LGBTQ+ scene in South Korea and beyond since the early 2010s. I have been creating and exhibiting artworks related to various queer issues, and performing in drag as Hurricane Kimchi, advocating LGBTQ+ rights. In 2018, I became a Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 Artist. My work does not only stay in studios and exhibitions, but it also hits the streets and be part of protests.
(Photography by Kim Min Soo)
Selected Exhibitions
2022 Pride Expo (Seoul) Group Exhibition
2021 Pride Expo (Seoul) Group Exhibition
2020 Queer Art Group Exhibition: Spectrum
2019 'Queer Asia' Art Exhibition at British Museum and SOAS
2019 Heezy Yang Retrospective Show in London, UK
2019 Seoul Drag Parade Photography Exhibition: SEOUL+DRAG
2018 'Queer Asia' Art Exhibition at SOAS
2017 Drag Queens On Canvas
2016 Seoul Pride Special Event: Boys And The Colours
2015 Seoul Pride Special Event: A Few Pieces In Almaz
Selected Performances
2023 We Are Trans-People (Transgender Day of Visibility Fundraiser)
2019, 2023 Pride Week at University of Utah Asia Campus
& George Mason Korea
2022 London, UK Tour
2022 Seoul Pride, Daegu Pride, Jeju Pride
2020 Live at Jebidabang
2020 Opening Act for RuPaul's Drag Race Werq The World in Seoul
2019 PinkDot Seoul
2019 Daegu Pride, Incheon Pride, Jeju Pride, Gyeongnam Pride
2018 Daegu Pride, Jeju Pride
2017 'Queer Asia' Conference at SOAS
2017 Daegu Pride, Jeju Pride
2016-2017 Street Performance 'You May Now Kiss The Groom'
2016 Seoul Pride, Daegu Pride
2015-2016 Street Performance 'Unjustifiable'
2013-2015 Seoul Pride
About My Drag
I have been active as a drag queen with the name of Hurricane Kimchi since 2014. I have been performing at various LGBTQ+ events (including Seoul Pride, Daegu Pride, Incheon Pride, Jeju Pride, and Gyeongnam Pride) as well as protesting in the streets and at rallies in drag to raise LGBTQ+ awareness. In 2018, I co-founded an annual event/oragnisation called Seoul Drag Parade and have been a chief organiser of it. I have also performed outside of South Korea - in London (UK), New York, Oslo, and Copenhagen. I organise and host shows, sing live, lip sync, and dance. I also write and release original songs, along with music videos, as a singer-songwriter, using my drag name.
(Photography by 강조새)
Gallery
Media Appearances
This is a list of selected articles that feature me, with links to them.
2021
Online Seoul Drag Parade goes global
The Korea Times
Interview – Hurricane Kimchi and Ali Zahoor
E-International Relations
2020
Drag artist dives into songwriting
The Korea Times
Coronavirus: Your Stories
BBC
How South Korea’s Nightclub Outbreak Is Shining an Unwelcome Spotlight on the LGBTQ Community
Time
'코로나19 낙인에 게이 낙인' 이태원 클럽 기사에 두번 우는 성소수자들
BBC Korea
Drag artists prepare to ‘Werq the World’
The Korea Herald
2019
Seoul's burgeoning drag scene confronts conservative attitudes
CNN
Dragaktivisten Heezy Yang besøker Oslo og MIR
Blikk
Why I became a drag activist in South Korea
Gay Star News
‘헤드윅’ 속 드랙이 거리로…‘서울드랙퍼레이드’를 아시나요?
한겨례
2nd Seoul Drag Parade kicks off in Haebangchon
Hankyoreh
2018
30 Under 30 Asia 2018: Social Renaissance Underscores South Korea's Honorees
Forbes
허프포스트코리아
South Korea’s debut drag queen parade held in Seoul
South China Morning Post
Seoul just held its very first drag parade and the photos are amazing
Gay Star News
South Korea held its first ever drag queen parade – and it was incredible
Pink News
허프포스트코리아
핀치
하이힐 신은 '그'를 보려고 무대 앞은 발 디딜 틈 없다
시사저널
2017
Hurricane Kimchi appears on BBC World News
London Korean Links
Meet The South Korean Artist Creating Space for Queer People
Into More
Expats decry military for gay sex conviction
The Korean Herald
2016
Queer Street Performer in South Korea Promotes Acceptance With Art
NBC
허프포스트코리아
하이힐 신은 남자 히지양의 외출, 서울 시청서 무슨 일이
아시아경제
Here’s Why I Walked Around Seoul Dressed As Drag Queen ‘Hurricane Kimchi’
Huffpost
허프포스트코리아
韓国のドラァグクイーン「ハリケーン・キムチ」は、ソウルで何を訴えたか
Huffpost Japan
Behind the Scenes with a Controversial Drag Performer in Seoul
10 Magazine
2015
Q&A: Activist Heezy Yang - Heezy expresses daily injustice.
Time Out Seoul
Q&A: 액티비스트 히지 양 - 그가 표현하는 정당하지 않은 우리 주변의 이야기.
타임 아웃 서울
Artist explores LGBT, social issues in Korea
The Korea Herald
Get Connected with LGBTQIA and Allies in Korea
10 Magazine
AP PHOTOS: LGBT people in conservative S. Korea find hope
AP News
Non-affirming Christians plan protest against Queer Cultural Festival’s Opening Ceremony
The Korea Observer
Out in the World: Seoul Gay Scene
Seattle Gay Scene
LGBT artist to stage latest protest in Seoul
The Korea Times
2014
Heezy Yangs Geheimnis - Homosexualität ist in Südkorea verpönt. Nur langsam fällt das Tabu.
Wiener Zeitung
Heezy, Artist, Seoul, South Korea
The Gay Men Project