A Major K-Pop Star Comes Out

[PeterRS]

The K-Pop industry is so isolated and very much a closed community. In the last couple of years it has been known, very sadly, for the suicides of a few top young stars. Most suspect that a few or more of the boys in the boy bands must be gay, but maybe that was just a fantasy.

Now one of its stars has openly come out as gay. Halfway through his band's last concert in Los Angeles in April, the end of a major world tour, 24-year old singer Bain of the group Just B told thousands of fans, "Before I start the next song, I want to share something with you guys. I'm proud to be part of the LGBTQ community." It was the most public outing of any K-Pop star.

He told the BBC that he was not nervous. He had known since the age of 12 that he was gay. When he joined the K-Pop trainee studio, he thought none of the others were gay. As he reached his 20s, he felt so conflicted about his sexuality. The one person he told was, rather surprisngly given the conservative nature of Korean society, his mother. She was initially sad but promised to support his choice, as did his fellow band members who had come to know. 

Since the announcement, Bain has become the new face of the Korean LGBTQ community.

photo: BBC Korean/Jungmin Choi

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn5kx7wn1nzo

[Riobard]

I’ve always wondered.

[Theman]

Wow, that's really unusual! Let's keep an eye on how things develop! escortalmaty.com

[unicorn]

He looks like a wax figure to me. Too much plastic surgery?

https://sbsstar.net/article/N1008074800/just-b-bain-becomes-the-first-kpop-boy-group-member-to-come-out#1

[Suckrates]

Perhaps its the aesthetic, OR maybe its just ME ?  but somehow when I look at male K-Pop stars, they ALL look GAY to me.......

Maybe I just associate soft, fem and flawless as traits belonging to gay men;  thats my bad !    

But when I compare a K-POP male to an alternative like an uber-alpha Pete Hegseth type,  that comparison begs the conclusion (for me) that they seem gay. 

I really SHOULD evolve !    😢

 

[PeterRS]

6 hours ago, unicorn said:

He looks like a wax figure to me. Too much plastic surgery?

Plastic surgery is the name of the game for most young Korean entertainers - and for many others in Korean society in general. South Korea is known as the "Plastic Surgery Capital of the World!"

https://www.kayatexas.org/blog/plastic-surgery-south-korea

[vinapu]

5 hours ago, Suckrates said:

 

But when I compare a K-POP male to an alternative like an uber-alpha Pete Hegseth type,  that comparison begs the conclusion (for me) that they seem gay. 

 

 

you kidding, for me Hegseth looks 125.78% like closeted gay

[Blah]

It's hardly a surprise.  Helen Keller would know he was gay!  🙄

[Patanawet]

8 hours ago, Suckrates said:

Perhaps its the aesthetic, OR maybe its just ME ?  but somehow when I look at male K-Pop stars, they ALL look GAY to me.......

Maybe I just associate soft, fem and flawless as traits belonging to gay men;  thats my bad !    

But when I compare a K-POP male to an alternative like an uber-alpha Pete Hegseth type,  that comparison begs the conclusion (for me) that they seem gay. 

I really SHOULD evolve !    😢

 

It's an image that they are made to show. For some reason Korean girl fans love it.

[PeterRS]

1 hour ago, Patanawet said:

It's an image that they are made to show. For some reason Korean girl fans love it.

But let's remember that Korean girls are as quick to go under the plastic surgeon's knife as the boys.

[a-447]

6 hours ago, PeterRS said:

Plastic surgery is the name of the game for most young Korean entertainers - and for many others in Korean society in general. South Korea is known as the "Plastic Surgery Capital of the World!"

https://www.kayatexas.org/blog/plastic-surgery-south-korea

It's also the male cosmetics capital of the world.

I remember going into a cosmetics store in Seoul to buy a female friend some face masks. I had to fight my way through all the young guys.

Needless to say, I went into many cosmetic stores!

[Suckrates]

It seems Asian culture covets the aesthetic of the classic "geisha".  A pristine, flawless seemingly "innocent", coy look ?    With K-Pop performers, for me its often difficult to separate the males from females.   Except for the females usually having long silken hair,  facially, and body type, they seem interchangeable. 

[PeterRS]

13 hours ago, Suckrates said:

With K-Pop performers, for me its often difficult to separate the males from females.   Except for the females usually having long silken hair,  facially, and body type, they seem interchangeable. 

Sorry but I canot agree. The movements may be quite similar but just looking at faces and dress and listening to the sound makes it obvious which is which.

Interestingly Korea's most famous pop band BTS reunited last night after each member had done his mandatory military service. As CNN reports, an audience of up to 260,000 assembled in Seoul for the concert in front of the 14th century Gyeongbokgung Palace, many having flown in from all parts of the world. They are as big as Taylor Swift, if not bigger.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/21/style/bts-arirang-comeback-concert-korea-intl-hnk

[Suckrates]

10 hours ago, PeterRS said:

Sorry but I canot agree. The movements may be quite similar but just looking at faces and dress and listening to the sound makes it obvious which is which.

Interestingly Korea's most famous pop band BTS reunited last night after each member had done his mandatory military service. As CNN reports, an audience of up to 260,000 assembled in Seoul for the concert in front of the 14th century Gyeongbokgung Palace, many having flown in from all parts of the world. They are as big as Taylor Swift, if not bigger.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/21/style/bts-arirang-comeback-concert-korea-intl-hnk

 

When you factor in life accomplishments, it is not comparing apples to apples.   I was speaking of physical appearance only.  You added in an extra element of distinquishment, and of course that detail makes your comment CORRECT....   
But if BTS grew their hair long, I would not be able to tell them from Blackpink or LE SSERAFIM.  😏