A Historic Moment in K-Pop: Cherry’s Disclosure Expands LGBTQ+ Visibility

Another milestone was set in K-pop history. On July 19, via an Instagram live stream, Cherry (real name Ryujin) revealed that she is a transgender woman. She stated, “This isn’t a hobby; it’s my life. I am transgender,” adding, “I couldn’t reveal everything from the start because I wasn’t an ordinary person. My goal was to move forward slowly.” Cherry first gained attention in 2016 when she appeared on the reality competition show “Boys 24.” Although she was eliminated from the competition to form a K-pop boy band, she later became a member of the group JWiiver. Her stage name at that time was Ryujin, and the band officially disbanded in January 2024 after releasing its mini-album “JTrap” in 2022. Fan reactions were overwhelming immediately after her disclosure. The hashtag #ProudOfCherry trended in Korean online communities on social media. One X user expressed support by saying, “I’ve been following her for a long time, and I get excited every time she expresses herself,” while another fan wrote, “I’m happy that she can finally live as her true self.” In an Instagram post on July 21, Cherry thanked international fans for their “support and love” and said, “I will live my second life more happily.” Cherry’s courageous disclosure significantly increased the visibility of sexual minorities within K-pop. Currently, there are very few stars in the K-pop industry who have openly revealed their LGBTQ+ identities. In 2018, Holland publicly came out as gay through a scene kissing a man in her debut song’s music video. In April of this year, Bain from Just B came out during a performance in Los Angeles by saying, “I’m proud to be part of the LGBT community.” Cocona from XG revealed she is transgender and non-binary on her 20th birthday and announced that she had undergone upper-body surgery. Additionally, Lara from Dream Academy came out as bisexual through Korea’s social media platform Weverse. However, acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals in Korean society is still evolving. According to a Pew Research poll in November 2023, 56% of Koreans oppose the legalization of same-sex marriage, while 41% support it. Last July, the Supreme Court ruled that the National Health Insurance Service must provide marriage insurance benefits to same-sex couples on par with heterosexual couples, which is seen as a step toward legalizing same-sex marriage in Korea. In 2022, the Supreme Court also ruled that transgender people can receive legal gender recognition even if they have minor children, provided they undergo sterilization procedures. The courageous coming outs of K-pop idols serve as important signals driving changes in societal attitudes in Korea. Their disclosures, including Cherry’s, ironically highlight how inadequate representation of sexual minorities has been in Korean popular culture, while simultaneously calling for a more inclusive K-pop ecosystem.