K-POP Idol Bain Comes Out Publicly on Stage in LA, Saying “I Feel Proud”

Bain, 24, the member of the K-POP male idol group JUST B (real name Song Byung-hee), publicly declared himself LGBTQ+ during a performance of their world tour “JUST ORD” in Los Angeles on April 22. On stage wearing black sunglasses and an oversized fur coat, he said, “I am proud to be part of the LGBTQ community,” before singing Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” while waving a rainbow flag. Thousands of fans responded with applause and cheers. Bain revealed he realized he was gay during his teenage years. However, he kept his sexual orientation completely hidden while training as an idol. “I thought it was inevitable that I had no choice but to hide it,” he recalled. “There was no one around me like me, and I just thought I had to keep hiding and endure.” He added that he was worried he might not be able to pursue an idol career at all. Bain debuted in 2021 and, after years of internal struggle, finally came out to his mother about three years ago (around 2022). “I talked to my mother for an hour, and I told her, ‘I prefer women over men,’” he said. His mother’s initial reaction was difficult. “At first, she found it hard to accept because she was worried about the hurt I might suffer from others,” he said, but eventually she accepted him. “In the end, she said, ‘You’re my son, so I love you and support you.’ I was sad, but at the same time grateful,” Bain added. After receiving his family’s support, Bain disclosed his sexual orientation to his agency, Blue Dot Entertainment, and his JUST B teammates. Some in the industry advised that coming out could be risky. “A few industry insiders advised that it might be dangerous because I could lose fans by coming out,” Bain said. But his bandmates and agency fully supported his decision. The JUST B members regarded Bain’s coming out as a historic moment. Member Ji On-woo said, “I want to call that day ‘the day of courage.’ It was a day for him and also for our team. It was a legendary day.” Bain described his feelings that day, saying, “Before going on stage, no one said anything special, but I could feel everyone saying, ‘Just be yourself’ and ‘You can do it.’ I don’t know how powerful that was.” Fans reacted positively to Bain’s coming out. That night, fans approached him, revealed they were also LGBTQ+, and thanked him for his courage. Bain said, “I should have come out earlier. By coming out, I gave others the courage to reveal themselves as well.” Coming out remains rare in South Korea’s entertainment industry. After actor Hong Seok-cheon publicly came out in 2000, he was fired from television programs and had his advertising contracts terminated, showing how severe the stigma was at the time. But 25 years later, Bain’s coming out signals a change in South Korea’s entertainment world. Hong Seok-cheon, along with K-POP’s first LGBTQ+ boy band LIONESSES and solo singer AleXa, immediately sent congratulatory messages to Bain for his courage. Bain is optimistic about his decision. “Society is changing. I thought there might be more gains than losses by coming out,” he said. Other JUST B members also joined in this change. Member Lim Ji-min said, “If you’re part of the LGBTQ community, you might feel very lonely, and it’s much better to have the support of people who love you.” Bain’s coming out represents not only personal courage but also a small yet significant step toward diversity and inclusion in conservative South Korean society.