First K-Pop Idol to Come Out as LGBTQ+ in Korea...A Historic Moment for Just B

Song Byeon-hee, known as Byun of Just B and 23 years old, revealed she is part of the LGBTQ+ community during a concert in Los Angeles on April 22. This marks the first time a K-Pop idol active in Korea has disclosed her identity, making it a historic turning point for South Korea’s music industry. At a Las Vegas show as part of Just B’s Asian tour, “Just Odd world tour,” Byun addressed the audience by saying, “I am proud to be part of the LGBTQ+ community,” and added that she wanted to share this information. She performed Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” while waving a rainbow flag, receiving standing ovations from the crowd. During the performance, Byun dedicated the song to “everyone in the LGBTQ+ community, whether they already identify as such or are still exploring it. You are seen, you are loved, and you were born this way,” delivering a message of encouragement to those on similar journeys. SIU, a member of the group who watched the scene from backstage, posted through the fan communication platform Fromm, expressing emotional support: “Byun was absolutely amazing. I applaud her courage. I was watching from behind the stage and cried. Thinking about how difficult and painful it must have been made my heart even heavier. We already gave her a big hug; this is truly a happy tour.” The significance of this coming out is amplified by South Korea’s social context. The country lags far behind international standards when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights. Same-sex marriage is not legally recognized, and same-sex couples cannot adopt children. Sexual relations between men during military service can result in prison sentences, and there are no anti-discrimination laws protecting LGBTQ+ rights. Pride events have been continuously disrupted, and revealing one’s LGBTQ+ identity can pose serious threats to career prospects and personal safety. The K-POP industry faces a similar situation. With over 1,000 active K-Pop groups, Byun is the only currently active group idol to publicly disclose her sexual orientation. While the K-POP industry has emphasized physical contact between members of the same gender as part of fan service, there is virtually no support system for those who come out as LGBTQ+. In interviews with major media outlets such as BBC and NBC, Byun said, “At first, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to come out. But as I thought about it more, my desire to be loved exactly as I am grew stronger.” She added, “I believed that one should come out when feeling the most sincere emotions and having the courage to speak wholeheartedly. I felt this was the right time.” Just B debuted in 2021 and released their EP “Just Odd” last March. The agency has not yet issued an official statement. Meanwhile, last month, Lara Raj, a member of KATSEYE, came out as queer, continuing a trend aimed at increasing visibility within the LGBTQ+ community.