Bain, a 23-year-old member of the K-pop boy band Just B, came out as gay onstage during a Los Angeles concert this week.
He was performing solo when he made the announcement, during the final stop of Just B’s Just Odd World Tour at the Vermont Hollywood Hall.
‘Tonight, I’m gonna share something with you guys,’ he said, as seen in footage that circulated on Instagram in the hours after the show.
‘I’m f***ing proud to be a part of the LGBTQ+, as a gay person. And shout out to my queen Lady Gaga, showing me that being different is beautiful.’
Bain, who’s real name is Song Byeong-hee, had a special message for the LGBTQ+ community and anyone who is still navigating their identity. He expressed that everyone is acknowledged, cherished, and inherently perfect just the way they are.
During the performance, he captivated the audience with his rendition of Lady Gaga’s iconic song ‘Born This Way’. This track holds significant meaning as it emerged as a powerful anthem during a time of intense discussions about same-sex unions in the US.
Bain’s announcement elicited rapturous cheers and applause from the audience, as well as a warm reaction from within his boy band.
Siwoo, a member of the group Just B, shared his emotions after witnessing Bain’s heartfelt performance. He revealed being moved to tears, empathizing with the challenges Bain might have faced. The sincerity in Bain’s act deeply touched Siwoo’s heart.
Just B was formed by Bluedot Entertainment in 2021, and in a few short years has released five EPs and 11 singles, three of them non-album.
Homosexuality is legal in South Korea, but gay sex is outlawed between military men and the state does not recognize same-sex marriage or civil unions.
There remains a social taboo around homosexuality amongst older generations, although general public attitudes have softened over time.
A study by the Pew Research Center found that the proportion of South Koreans who believe society should accept homosexuality reached 44 percent in 2019, a significant increase from 25 percent in 2002.
Within the K-pop industry, the artists’ love lives are generally kept private regardless of sexual orientation, to the point that in years past there have been reports of ‘no dating’ clauses being included in talent contracts.
However K-pop stars have come out of the closet in more recent times, including Katseye member Lara Raj only last month.
‘I knew I was half a fruitcake when I was like eight, so I really was wanting everybody,’ said Raj, an Indian American. ‘Honestly probably before eight. Isn’t half a fruitcake such a good way to explain it without saying it?’
K-pop songstress Jiae declared she was bisexual and dating a woman in 2020, the year after the breakup of the girl group WA$$UP in which she initially became a star.
The man credited as ‘the first openly gay K-pop idol’ is the singer Holland, who adopted his stage name in honor of the first country to legalize same-sex marriage.
Holland shot to fame in 2018 with the release of his self-funded debut single Neverland, along with its instantly viral music video that showed him kissing a man.
In 2022 he tweeted photos of himself with a cut on his face, saying he had been attacked because of his sexual orientation during a night out in Seoul.
‘Last night, I was walking around Itaewon with my manager and a friend,’ he wrote. ‘Suddenly, a stranger man approached me and hit me on the face twice, calling me “a dirty gay”. Now I have a scar on my face and I’m going to the hospital soon.’
When Lara Raj came out of the closet this March, an official from a major K-pop powerhouse gave a nuanced view of the context to the Korea Herald.
‘Public perception on sexual minorities in Korea has improved a lot, as you can see many TV shows starring them these days,’ the official remarked.
‘But looking at it from the perspective of the overall culture, it’s still a big change. Reactions will likely differ by country. I’m worried because there could be backlash. I don’t know what kind of reaction will come, from where, or how.’
