K-pop gets its first gay male idol

K-pop gets its first gay male idol

What in the World · 2025-06-20

The K-pop industry is known for being super strict and encouraging idols not to share details about their private lives, especially their relationships. For LGBTQ idols, there’s an added layer of pressure, where they can’t reveal or talk about their sexuality at all, due to the stigma associated with homosexuality in South Korea. The country is deeply divided over LGBTQ acceptance.

So what happens if you do mention your sexuality as a K-pop idol? BBC Korean’s Juna Moon has been talking to Bain from the boyband JUST B, who came out as gay on stage during a show in Los Angeles earlier this year. We hear some of her interview with Bain, who talks about his fans’ reactions. And Juna explains why it’s so unusual for K-pop idols to disclose their sexual identity.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworldEmail: [email protected]: +44 330 12 33 22 6Presenter: Hannah GelbartProducers: Julia-Ross Roy and Benita BardenEditor: Verity Wilde

What in the World

Helping you make sense of what’s happening in your world. Big stories, small stories and everything in between. Understand more, feel better. Five days a week, Monday to Friday.

  • No. of episodes: 508
  • Latest episode: 2025-07-03
  • News

Where can you listen?

Apple Podcasts Logo Podtail Logo Google Podcasts Logo RSS

Episodes