K-Pop Singer Bain Of Just B Comes Out At US Concert

Bain, a member of the K-pop group Just B, made a groundbreaking announcement during a solo performance at a concert in Los Angeles on Tuesday. The 23-year-old expressed pride in being part of the LGBT community, a rare and significant move in the K-pop industry, where personal lives, especially relationships, are often kept private. The announcement was met with loud cheers and support from the audience, as seen in videos circulating on social media. With this, Bain joins a small but growing list of K-pop artists who have publicly embraced their identity.

“To anyone out there who’s part of the LGBT community, or still figuring it out – this is for you guys,” Bain, whose real name is Song Byeong-hee, said in a video posted on his social media after the concert.

“You are seen, you are loved, and you were born this way,” he added, before launching into a performance of Born This Way by pop icon Lady Gaga, whom he referred to as “my queen”.

His bandmates welcomed the announcement. Just B member Siwoo said he cried while watching Bain’s performance.

“I know how hard it was for him, and that made me want to cry more,” he said, according to Korean media outlet News1.

The band’s fans have shown their support as well.

“We love you so much and are so proud of you for being yourself,” reads a top-liked comment under his Instagram post.

“You are so loved. So proud to be your fan. Be proud of who you are,” another fan wrote.

Just B, a six-member K-pop group formed in 2021, has gained attention not only for their music but also for Bain’s recent public revelation about his identity. Coming out in South Korea’s entertainment industry is still a rare and courageous move, as homosexuality remains a sensitive topic, despite not being illegal.

Same-sex marriage is not legally recognized, and LGBT people continue to face discrimination, as highlighted by a 2022 Human Rights Watch report. Bain’s announcement has sparked support but also draws attention to the challenges faced by LGBT individuals in the country, where such personal revelations are often met with both admiration and hesitation.

Bain is not the first K-pop star to come out, though his announcement is still a significant moment. Just last month, Lara, an Indian-American member of the girl group Katseye, came out as queer on a K-pop fan community platform, marking another milestone for visibility in the industry.

Additionally, in 2020, Jiae from the now-disbanded girl group Wassup also publicly shared that she is bisexual via Instagram. These moments are part of a slowly growing movement within K-pop, where artists are breaking down barriers and challenging the norms surrounding personal identities in the entertainment world.