In A Rare Move, K-Pop Idol Bain From Boy Band JUST B Publicly Came Out As Gay During A Concert
Bain said he didn’t come out to make an impact on the K-pop industry and had simply wanted to share his true self and be authentic with his fans.
In a rare move, K-pop star Bain, from the boy band JUST B, publicly came out as gay during a concert in Los Angeles, California.
While performing solo on April 22 during JUST B’s final concert for its “JUST ODD” world tour, 24-year-old Bain, whose full name is Song Byeon-hee, took to the stage, saying to the crowd, “Tonight I want to share something with you guys. I’m fucking proud to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community as a gay person.”
The announcement makes him the only openly gay K-pop group idol, according to Dazed.
Bain then performed Lady Gaga's “Born This Way,” after dedicating it to members of the LGBTQ community or still figuring it out and saying, “You are seen, you are loved, and you were born this way.” while the crowd cheered and applauded.
The K-pop industry is renowned for its “flamboyant, genderless costumes and intricate makeup on both male and female idols, as well as one of its more contentious elements of ‘fan service’ – skinship” where same-sex members in a group display platonic physical affection on camera and on stage for fans to speculate over and ship, according to Dazed.
However, this stands in stark contrast to the reality in conservative South Korea, where same-sex marriage still remains illegal and there is a lack of LGBTQ representation in the K-pop industry.
There are only a handful of K-pop stars who are openly LGBTQ, such as Holland, known as the first K-pop star to come out as gay in 2018, and others, like Jiae of girl group Wassup, came out as bisexual only after the group disbanded.
Speaking to Dazed after the concert, Bain said that he had come out to JUST B members and the company about two years ago.
“The members accepted me with calmness and warmth, smiling and nodding as if they’d already known. I’m not sure if they were trying to hide their surprise in front of me, but that moment was a huge comfort for me,” he said.
He said that he was inspired to share more of his true self based on encouragement from fans throughout the tour and received his bandmates’ and company’s full support beforehand.
“It’d be a lie to say I wasn’t afraid,” he said. “Since I’m not a solo artist but part of a team, I also worried that my decision might somehow burden the group, but my members embraced me with genuine understanding and strength, and because of them, I was able to become even stronger.”
He added that he didn’t come out to make an impact on the K-pop industry and had simply wanted to share his true self and be authentic with his fans.
“However, if my story helps someone find courage or has a positive influence, that alone would be incredibly fulfilling for me. And if I can be a source of strength for those individuals, I will have supported them as well,” he added.
“Byeong Hee was amazing. Applause for his courage. I was watching backstage, and I teared up. Knowing how hard and painful this must've been, it hit me even harder. I already gave him a big hug. It's been such a happy tour,” Bandmate Siwoo said.
“You are an inspiration for so many people, Bain. You are seen and loved beyond words !!!! I'm so proud of you and wish nothing but the best for you,” a fan wrote on Instagram“Since this pertains to Bain’s personal life and sexual identity, it is difficult for us to provide a separate statement,” JUST B’s agency, BLUEDOT Entertainment said, Soompi reported.
In March, Lara, an Indian-American member of the K-pop girl group Katseye, came out as queer on a K-pop fan community platform.
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