[Trigger Warning: Mention of Suicide]
In this new era, the LGBT Community promotes and embraces diversity, and takes pride in individuality.
However, Korea is known to be a sensitive country, and people are eager to preserve their culture and belief despite the modern way of living. People will earn criticism once they come out, and the hostility is greater if it's a celebrity admits they are part of the Community
Nevertheless, these K-pop stars took the courage and stood proud of who they are either pre-debut or in the middle of their career.
13 K-pop Stars Who Admitted They Are Part of the LGBT Community
1. Holland
Holland is not the first known LGBT K-pop idol, but you can say that in this new generation of K-pop, he's one of the first idols who admitted that he's gay.
Before debuting in 2018, he first came out in his middle-school years, and it didn't go as smoothly as expected. Holland received criticism and discriminations due to his sexuality and even consider suicide due to bullying.
However, the people like him became his motivation to become a singer and to become the voice through his songs.
2. Som Hye In
The K-pop singer, Som Hye In, who made her way to the K-pop industry after joining the reality show, "Idol School," came out in 2019 as bisexual after posting her photo kissing another girl on her personal Instagram account.
When asked about her sexuality, the singer admitted the speculations saying, "I am bisexual, and I have a girlfriend now."
3. D.I.P Hyeong Seong
Debuting in 2016, the K-pop band's leader, Hyeong Seong, also confessed to being a bisexual.
In particular, over his Facebook account, he stated in his bio that he is both attracted to man and woman.
4. D.I.P Seungho and B.Nish
It's very rare for K-pop idols to have a public relationship with a same-sex idol, but Seungho and B.Nish, who are both members of the K-pop group D.I.P, admitted that they had been dating for years from their debut in 2016. Over their social media accounts, they were very open to showing their feelings for each other.
5. TOPP DOGG Hansol
On his Instagram live back in 2017, Hansol came out as asexual - meaning, he doesn't have any kind of attraction, whether to women or men.
He confessed, "I don't like anyone nor anybody. I just like myself."
6. LADY
The first all-transgender Korean pop group, called LADY, debuted in 2005. However, after two years, they disbanded as their image and their songs did not sit well with Koreans.
7. Marshall Bang
Marshall Bang, who debuted in 2018, came from Orange County to pursue his dreams of becoming a K-pop star. He initially came out as gay in 2015, and upon coming in Korea, his friends told him to keep his sexuality secret - but he's proud of his identity, making him the first Korean artist who is openly gay.
8. Choi Hanbit
Hanbit, who debuted in the girl group MERCURY, is a transgender model and singer-actress. She had her operation in 2006 to achieve her full transformation from male-to-female sex.
9. MAMAN
Maman, initially known as Magolpy, debuted under Jerry Entertainment with Super Junior's Kangin featuring on her song.
However, during an interview, she confessed she is gay, causing her to be kicked out from her agency.
10. Harisu
Harisu is one of the very first known transgender singers and entertainers.
12. Kwon Do Woon
According to Yahoo! News, Korean trot singer Kwon Do Woon helped set the path as the first big Korean star to come out on his own terms in 20 years.
Kwon issued a statement through his agency in October 2020, claiming that he wishes to take a part in advocating for LGBTQ+ people's human rights. He also expressed his desire to assist others in the entertainment sector who are afraid to come out.
12. Former Wassup member Jiae
Jiae captioned a selfie of herself and another female she posted on Instagram on July 15, 2021, "It was difficult, hard, eventful, whether LG or BT."
The post was deleted then after.
13. Aquinas
"High School Rapper 3" star Aquinas also declared that he is bisexual around the same time. He, like Jiae, opted to come out on Instagram, presenting a stylized rainbow flag with the English and Korean phrases "I'm bisexual." The post was deleted.
