DDing Dong provides LGBTIQ youth in crisis with a safe place free from violence and discrimination. Youth can access counseling and urgent support, including medical care, legal help, housing assistance, and therapy. However, the donor-provided space we rely on will no longer be available after February 2026. We are launching this fundraiser to secure a new space where queer youth can seek help, receive support, and safely express their gender identity.
If this project succeeds, we can create a space that welcomes LGBTIQ youth and provides counseling that respects their sexual orientation and gender identity. Because the Korean government provides no budget for LGBTIQ youth, losing DDing Dong's space could end the work we have sustained. For isolated youth facing risks such as suicide and depression, DDing Dong can be a critical source of safety and support.
Most LGBTIQ youth who visit DDing Dong face psychological distress or conflict at home or school. Some seek information while exploring their identities, and others come to meet peers. This new space will give them security, comfort, and affirmation, helping them build warm connections during a critical stage of development. All funds raised will go toward the security deposit, rent, and maintenance needed to operate the space.
DDing Dong is the only institution in South Korea dedicated to meeting LGBT youth excluded from welfare systems, supporting those in crisis, and raising social awareness of their existence. LGBT youth need a safe space to share struggles, find support, express themselves, and connect with peers. Space may seem basic, but it is essential. At DDing Dong, we affirm their presence and work for a better future.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
