From JUST B's Bain To Holland: 5 K-pop Idols Who Identify As Part Of The LGBTQ+ Community
June is recognised as Pride Month — a time when members of the LGBTQ+ community celebrate their identities openly, without shame or fear. It is also a time to educate the wider public about Pride and the values it represents: inclusion, equality, and love.
Although South Korea remains a largely conservative society, that hasn't stopped some K-pop idols from coming out. Despite facing criticism and potential backlash, these artists have chosen to live as their authentic selves rather than hide in the shadows. Here are some K-pop idols who proudly wave the rainbow flag in recent years:
1. Bain – JUST B
Earlier this year, JUST B member Bain (배인) unexpectedly — and bravely — came out as gay on stage during his group's [JUST ODD] tour in Los Angeles. The K-pop idol received an outpouring of support from fans, fellow group members, and other queer Korean stars, who praised him for his courage to live as his authentic self. He later opened up in an interview about his coming-out journey and how warmly his bandmates accepted him for who he is.
2. Jiae – Former WA$$UP member
Back in 2020, former WA$$UP member Jiae (지애) surprised fans by coming out as bisexual. The singer-turned-vlogger took to Instagram to share that she was attracted to both men and women and is in a romantic relationship with a woman. In a later interview, she opened up about the challenges she faced after coming out, including feelings of isolation, even within the LGBTQ+ community. Today, the singer is still together with her girlfriend.
3. Holland
No conversation about queer K-pop idols would be complete without mentioning Holland (홀랜드). Go Tae-seob (고태섭), better known by his stage name Holland, made history when he debuted with his openly gay single and music video 'Neverland' in 2019, followed by 'I'm Not Afraid' and 'Nar_C'. Unlike others on this list, Holland never had a formal coming-out moment as he made his debut as K-pop's first openly gay artist.
4. Aquinas
Rapper Kang Min Soo (강민수), known by his stage name Aquinas, came out as gay on Instagram in April 2024. The former 'High School Rapper 3 (고등래퍼3)' contestant had previously come out as bisexual in 2021. Following his most recent post, fans, particularly international ones, flooded the comments section with messages of support. Although both coming-out posts have since been deleted, many still remember how his openness offered comfort and inspiration to those struggling with their own identities.
5. Jo Kwon – 2AM
Back in 2020, 2AM member Jo Kwon (조권) confirmed in an interview with Newsis that he identifies as genderless or gender non-conforming. 'Being genderless is my weapon. In the past, I was afraid of having a neutral image. If people said I looked like a girl, I would pretend that wasn't true. But now, I'm okay with it. I've come to accept who I am. I have a weapon that will help me keep on going for a long time, ahead of the genderless era,' he said.
Honourable Mention
MAMAN (Formerly Magoply)
While Holland is recognised as the first openly gay K-pop idol to come out before his debut, the first to do so after debuting was soloist MAMAN (마망) back in 2007. Formerly signed to Jerry Entertainment with the stage name Magolpy, she came out as a lesbian during an episode of 'Kim Hong Joong's Music Date'. Her agency initially tried to dismiss the confession as a joke, but she refused to go along with it, leading to her removal from the company.
After leaving the agency, she signed with a new label and re-debuted as MAMAN with the single 'Obvious Story' in 2015, accompanied by a music video that portrays a romantic relationship between two women, which ends in heartbreak. These days, she has expressed no desire to return to the spotlight.
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