Machismo isn't nearly the ordeal here that it is back home. Men carry purses, both for themselves or just holding their girlfriend's bag are common, wear shiny clothing, get androgynous hair styles and are pretty metrosexual in general. The biggest difference is that men will hold hands with their platonic male friends here, and in some cases they stroke each other's arms and backs the way couples do back home. It's more common to see women doing this, but I have witnessed men showing affection to their friends here. On the flip side, heterosexual couples will settle for hand holding until after 12am--when the drinking has clouded the country's perceptions of what constitutes too much PDA.
As much as it seems that the affection between same-sex friends is acceptable, homosexuality is still heavily frowned upon. There is a section of Seoul with some gay clubs, but it's not common to know if someone is gay or not unless you're in one of those clubs. It was rather recently in the country's history that homosexuals were even acknowledged as existing in Korea. It used to be a "we don't have that problem" view.
I'm rather confused as to what would fuel this homophobia if the affection between people of the same sex isn't seen as wrong. Is it really just a crossing the line of orgasm? People are satisfying their need for skin on skin contact by snuggling with friends, why would it be so wrong for couples to do this?
Oh, Korea, you confuse me sometimes.
