When Bain, the vocalist of K-pop boy band Just B, came out as gay during a concert on April 22, it sparked a discussion in the broader K-pop scene about how such moments – still rare in the industry – may shape its future.
The singer made the announcement during a stop on the group’s “Just Odd” world tour in Los Angeles, telling the crowd mid-show, “I am proud to be a part of the LGBTQ community.” His words were met with loud cheers and applause as he waved a rainbow flag onstage.
Although several K-pop artists have come out as gay in recent years, Bain is the first active member of a Korean boy group to do so publicly.
Korea’s entertainment industry has long been shaped by a conservative cultural backdrop, whereby open discussions of sexual orientation have remained limited.
Queer representation began to surface in the mainstream in 2000 when TV personality Hong Seok-cheon became the first Korean celebrity to come out publicly, in a magazine interview. The announcement sparked intense public debate at the time and led to his temporary removal from major broadcast appearances.
Other entertainers who later came out – including Jiae, a former member of the girl group Wassup; Som Hevin, a contestant on the 2017 audition show Idol School; and trot singer Kwon Do-woon – faced similar public scrutiny and career challenges.