Pop Star Comes Out As Gay During Concert: Just B’s Bain ‘Proud to Be a Part of the LGBTQ+ Community’

A Korean pop star publicly came out as gay during a concert last month.

Bain, the 23-year-old member of the Korean boy band Just B, made the announcement while performing in Los Angeles.

It’s almost unheard of for the Korean music industry, where K-pop artists are extremely private with details of their personal lives due to fear of potential consequences from both labels and fans.

During the concert on April 22, Bain performed a solo and then said, “I’m proud to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community—as a gay person.” The crowd cheered, and the star continued his speech.

“To anyone out there who’s part of the LGBTQ+ community, or still figuring it out, this is for you. You are seen, you are loved, and you were born this way,” he said, referring to Lady Gaga’s classic hit Born This Way. He called the pop singer “my queen” and then began his own performance of the song while waving a rainbow flag.

In the socially conservative nation of South Korea, same-sex marriage is still not possible, and homosexuality is still frowned upon. Bain is the first male K-pop star to come out as gay.

Just B is quite popular in Korea, with five EPs and many more singles since the group’s debut in 2021.