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South China Morning Post
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Bain becomes first active K‑pop boy group member to ever publicly come out as gay
Bain, a member of South Korean boy band Just B, has become the first active Korean K-pop idol to come out as gay, a landmark move that challenges deep-rooted taboos in the country's entertainment industry. And, as he told South China Morning Post's This Week in Asia in an exclusive interview, a move that came after intense personal struggle. 'I am proud to be a part of the LGBTQ community,' the 23-year-old, whose real name is Song Byeong-hee, declared during a packed concert in Los Angeles on April 22, before dedicating a cover of Lady Gaga's Born This Way to 'anyone still figuring it out'. Waving a rainbow flag as the crowd erupted into cheers, Bain added: 'You are seen, you are loved, and you were born this way.' Joy in Thailand for LGBTQ couples saying 'I do' as marriage equality law takes effect The moment sent shock waves across the K-pop world, with fans flooding social media platforms with messages of admiration and solidarity. 'Wow! Hats off to Bain. People like him make K-pop even more wonderful. I love you,' wrote one fan on social media. 'I admire your courage. I support you and I hope you shine even brighter!' wrote another. Members of Bain's band also showed support. 'I want to send my applause to Bain. I was also in tears, watching from backstage,' said Siwoo, Just B's sub-vocalist. Bain's announcement was immediately hailed as historic, but activists stressed that he stood on the shoulders of earlier trailblazers. Bain of Just B attends a release showcase event for their first single album in Seoul, South Korea. Photo: The Chosunilbo JNS/Imazins via Getty Images Singer and actress Harisu gained fame in the early 2000s as the country's first openly transgender entertainer. When television personality Hong Seok-cheon came out as gay in 2000, he faced a severe backlash. Lara Rajagopalan, an Indian-American member of the multinational K-pop girl group Katseye, publicly identified as queer earlier this year, marking another milestone for LGBTQ representation in the industry. A long-time LGBTQ activist and educator, who wished to be identified only by the pen name Ruin, said it was important to avoid framing Bain's coming out as unprecedented. 'Treating this as a 'first' risks erasing the countless artists – transgender, bisexual, asexual – who have already come out and faced discrimination,' Ruin said. 'This creates a narrative where queer presence must always start from zero, when in fact it's been consistently built through decades of activism and survival.' Your Voice: Dignity for the LGBTQ community (short letters) Bain said the experience of coming out on stage – and being met with a roar of support – was deeply personal and affirming. In his interview with This Week in Asia, he described the moment as 'truly special', recalling how the crowd's reaction helped quiet the anxieties he had carried in the lead-up to the show. 'The fans' cheers gave me great reassurance,' he said. But he stressed that the decision was not easy. In the days leading up to the concert, he wrestled with fear – not only for himself, but for his group and their talent agency. 'I had a dinner conversation with our staff and members the night before the performance. Even in the waiting room, I kept asking for their advice,' he said. Lara Rajagopalan (top row, middle) of global girl group Katseye came out as bisexual earlier this year. Photo: Instagram South Korea's entertainment industry has long espoused conservative values, at least on the surface, but the positive attention paid in recent months to celebrities like transgender television personality Poongja and gay social media influencer Kim Ddol-ddol embracing their identities reveals a shifting landscape. 'Previously, coming out was seen as career suicide for a singer,' music critic and columnist Kim Zak-ka said. 'The traditional strategy was based on building an image that was lovable for all. Even being in a [straight] relationship could be met with backlash. But the fan base – and the business model – have evolved.' Kim said this was partly thanks to the global expansion of K-pop fandoms, many of which have championed minority rights by supporting movements such as Black Lives Matter, opening the door for idols to be more candid about their identities. 'Nowadays, embracing one's sexuality can even be seen as a way to strengthen the bond between artists and their fans abroad.' 10 Hong Kong LGBTQ couples marry in a rare ceremony for the city But, for Bain, the decision was personal, not strategic. 'I believe revealing my true self to fans who genuinely love me is a form of respect,' he said. 'I no longer want to live by anyone's expectations but my own. In my music, my performances and my life, I will show my true self.' Pastor Lee Dong-hwan, a long-time LGBTQ rights activist, lauded Bain's decision as 'courageous'. 'Other celebrities who came out in the past, like television personality Hong Seok-cheon, suffered a lot of hate and discrimination. That is why Bain's decision is very courageous,' the pastor said. It is difficult for public icons like Bain to reveal their sexual identities as the discussion surrounding LGBTQ rights in South Korea focuses strongly on traditional values, tending to either over-sexualise the issue or avoid it altogether, according to Lee. South Korea remains deeply divided over LGBTQ acceptance. As of 2024, 50 per cent of South Koreans opposed same-sex marriage, according to a Korea Research survey.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Just B's Bain is 1st K-pop idol in a boy group to come out as gay
[Source] Just B member Bain made history this week by becoming the first K-pop idol in a boy group to publicly come out as gay during the group's 'Just Odd' concert in Los Angeles on Tuesday. 'Born this way' Bain, whose real name is Song Byeong-hee, paused mid-show at The Vermont Hollywood to make his announcement. 'I am proud to be a part of the LGBTQ community,' he declared to loud cheers from the audience, adding that he identifies as 'a gay person.' He also credited Lady Gaga for showing him that 'being different is beautiful,' leading to a performance of 'Born This Way.' He later took to Instagram to share the news. Fellow Just B member Siwoo shared a supportive message through the fan platform Fromm on Thursday. 'Byunghee (Bain) was amazing. Applause for his courage. I was watching backstage, and I teared up. Knowing how hard and painful this must've been, it hit me even harder,' Siwoo noted. Trending on NextShark: Why this matters Bain's announcement represents a watershed moment in K-pop, an industry known for strict control over artists' personal lives. Just B's label, BLUEDOT Entertainment, issued the following response: 'Since this pertains to Bain's personal life and sexual identity, it is difficult for us to provide a separate statement.' Bain joins a small group of openly LGBTQ+ K-pop idols, including Jiae (formerly of Wassup), who came out as bisexual in 2020, and Lara of Katseye, who came out as a 'fruitcake' last month. These announcements are significant given South Korea's conservative stance on LGBTQ+ issues. While homosexuality is not illegal in the country, it remains largely taboo, with same-sex marriage not legally recognized. Trending on NextShark: Fans have rallied behind Bain using the hashtag #ProudofBain, showing support for his decision that challenges industry norms. 'Song Byeonghee I hope you know just how loved and iconic you are. I am so proud of you and I'm honored to be on this journey with you,' one fan wrote. This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter — a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices. Trending on NextShark: Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what we're building, consider becoming a paid member — your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Subscribe here now! Trending on NextShark: Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
JUST B's Siwoo shared his support as fellow member Bain comes out during Los Angeles concert
Fellow member Siwoo expresses support in an online post Queer Representation in K-pop JUST B's Bain Comes Out as a Gay Person Read Also Member Bain of K-pop boy group JUST B recently came out during an emotional speech. The idol shared news about his sexuality during one of the group's concerts during the U.S. leg of their member from JUST B, Siwoo took to online social media platforms and official fan forums online to share his support for Bain. In a recent post, the idol shared his opinion and stated that 'Byung Hee (Bain) was amazing today. I applaud his courage. I was watching backstage, and it brought me to tears.'Talking about the hardships that his fellow member had to face, Siwoo shared, 'Knowing how hard and painful it's been for him made me cry even more." While talking about the tour and his members, he also added that "I already gave him a hug. This tour has been such a happy one.'Bain becomes one of the few idols from the K-pop world who is open and out about his sexuality. Previously idols like Holland also entered the scene and publicly shared their sexuality and identity with fans. Alongside this, Wassup member Jiae also recently shared that she identifies as a bisexual person. Popular girl group member Lara from KATSEYE also took to an online fan forum to share that she is queer. The idol was interacting with fans and shared, 'Isn't 'half a fruitcake' such a good way to explain it without saying it?' according to recently onstage, Bain proudly announced that 'I'm proud to be part of the LGBTQ community.' The video of the event went viral, and the idol himself also shared a post online on his social media platform with a heartfelt caption. Media outlets reached out to the idols' agency for comments on the matter; however, they have not released anything official. In a reply to Star News, the agency shared that 'It's a personal matter.'
