LGBTQI+ representation is a subject that is slowly but surely becoming commonplace in the world of Korean media. Be it in Korean films or dramas, a subject that was formerly taboo in Korean society has been slowly gaining momentum in a movement of acceptance.

In a street interview conducted by SHINE TEEN YouTube Channel in Jul. 2021, random members of the Korean public were asked what they think the overall thought on the LGBTQI+ community is in Korea. These are some of the answers that were given:

"I think the prejudices about it (the LGBTQI+ community) are being cast away more and more, but there are still some people who embrace those prejudices and look upon members of the LGTBQI+ community with dagger stares. I still think those prejudices exist. I think it might be because they make up a minority and people think it's not that ordinary." 

"I still think that Korean society is conservative when it comes to those kinds of things. They (LGBTQI+ people) are subject to a lot of prejudice. It might be that way because they are different. People treat the difference like it is wrong but that's not really the case."

As made evident in the quotes above, there is still a lot of prejudice surrounding the subject matter and such prejudice can partly be remedied by positive representation.

Despite this being the general public opinion on the LGBTQI+ community, one way in which LGTBQI+ representation has increased recently is through the rise in the production of BL K-Dramas.

BL stands for 'Boys Love' and its female equivalent is called GL or 'Girls Love'. Both are genres in which the main characters are in a queer relationship and the plot is centered around their romance.

In the case of BL, the content is often based on female-oriented male-to-male love. This is largely due to the target audience and most consumers of the genre being female. This was noted in the cast notes for the BL drama "Choco Milk Shake".

Countries like Thailand, Taiwan, and more have been producing the BL genre successfully for several years now. Korea also joined the production culture in the past couple of years, seeing success in viewership despite its society's conservative reputation.

Additionally, in the past year, the number of K-Pop idols who have participated and been cast in Korean BL dramas has increased exponentially.

For a list of K-Pop idols (past and present) who have played roles in BL K-Dramas, check out this article - last updated in March 2022.

Many more idols from groups of varying popularity have taken on BL roles since that list was published. We will mention some of them later in this article.

This rise in participation from K-Pop idols in BL acting has received mixed responses from BL, K-Drama, and K-Pop fans alike. Whilst some fans are overjoyed at the increase in LGBTQI+ representation, others question the intention of the idols (in particular) taking on this important task.

We have previously touched on the subject of LGBTQI+ representation along with cultural misrepresentation in this article about how K-Dramas can improve their representation of international audiences, too. Make sure to give it a read for another perspective.

Today, we'll take a look at the thoughts of BL fans regarding how the rise of K-Pop idols taking on BL drama roles impacts LGTBQI+ representation.

The general reception of BL dramas in Korea

Whilst queer representation in K-Dramas is nothing new, the upsurge in BL production is the first to put queer characters on the forefront of the Korean small screen.

The LGBTQI+ community has made cameo and support roles in considerably mainstream dramas such as "Mine", "Itaewon Class", and more before.

You can see a list of K-Dramas that have featured the LGTBQI+ community in this article.

However, the representation of queer characters as the main leads is still a fresh concept for Korean small screens.

BL dramas have been receiving an outstanding response from BL fans and more recently from general K-Drama fans, as well.

For example, BL dramas like "Oh! Boarding House" have even received recognition in the form of being put on a larger stage. The Seezn sitcom was invited to the 26th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival.

When asked about the sudden increase in BL production with K-Pop idol casts, an agency official stated that the entertainment agency executives were conservative previously but the prejudice against BL content seems to be disappearing due to its popularity. This has made room for more idols to take part in the genre.

The "Semantic Error" Effect

One of the BL K-Dramas that sparked this debate, in the first place, is the hit 2022 BL web drama "Semantic Error". Despite the BL dramas before it being successful in their own right, "Semantic Error" was a super hit and is known as the BL drama that sparked an interest in the genre even for the regular K-Drama viewer who is not accustomed to BL dramas. This is both locally and globally.

When asked about the hit drama's inclusivity, Watcha (the platform that created the drama) said that its vision as a platform is to create a variety of content where everyone's differences are accepted.

This speaks volumes about how representation is shifting in the industry today.

For a former K-Pop idol (KNK) turned actor like Park SeoHam, he had a lot riding on his role as Jang JaeYoung and it was an opportunity that he felt would determine the direction of his career. He was admittedly going through a tough time when the opportunity came to him and it ended up being the role that put him on the radar of many new fans.

DKZ's JaeChan who played Choo SangWoo also had a similar spike in success, becoming one of the most sought-after idols to cast in all sorts of activities thereafter. Not only did playing this BL role have a positive influence on his singular career, but his boy group DKZ saw an influx in popularity as a result, too.

While it's not to say that "Semantic Error" is the only BL drama that has led to a boost in recognition for its stars; it is considered an obvious example as it made such a huge contribution to changing mindsets surrounding the BL genre and both leads were catapulted to more fame.

Intentions in Question: Representation vs. Queerbaiting and Capitalism

Although representation is always for a greater cause, it needs to be done authentically to have the expected positive effect.

As much as fans are excited to see the increase in BL K-Drama productions, especially starring their favorite idols, there is also concern about the intention behind the rise.

Offering Representation on Big Platforms vs. Hypocrisy Based on Profit

One of the concerns from fans is about the hypocrisy that Korean BL dramas might symbolize. In a society that still faces problems with homophobia, fans find it questionable that it is becoming acceptable to highlight queerness for entertainment purposes.

Of course, the growth in acceptance of some people's mindsets and the possibility that some people still fail to accept a matter are not mutually exclusive.

However, some fans have brought up the fact that it seems that queer relationships are becoming acceptable in Korea in a general sense, but the conversation would be different if it was surrounding their personal lives.

YouTube Screenshot

However, other fans believe that instead of trying to analyze the intention of BL producers with a negative interpretation; everyone should be focusing on the intentions of the actors.

Many actors have spoken about wanting to take on BL roles to represent the queer community in a positive light to change perspectives in real life. It is a decision that they don't take lightly. We'll discuss more of those idols later in this article, but take a look at this fan's take on some of the key K-Pop idols who have played BL roles so far.

YouTube Screenshot

It is also important to note that the debate about the intentions behind BL drama productions and castings has increased since the number of K-Pop idols being cast has increased, too.

There is talk that agencies are pushing to have their idols star in BL dramas to gain a similar effect to that of DKZ's JaeChan. This trend seems like it might rise in Japan, as well.

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Other fans argue that K-Pop idols have always been known to star in web dramas, especially when getting their foot through the acting door. It is simply inevitable/coincidental that the roles they get cast in are in BL dramas because more of them are being produced.

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Progressiveness vs. Queerbaiting

The other concern that fans have about this form of representation is whether it is using progressiveness as a guise for queerbaiting, which could twist the outcome of queer representation in the end.

Queerbaiting is a marketing technique used in fiction and entertainment that creators use to hint at, but not depict, same-sex romance or other LGBTQI+ representation.

Queerbaiting, as a marketing technique, is inherently developed as a means to gain profit.

Besides that, the encouragement of queerbaiting is known for taking opportunities away from the very community it is representing.

This fan mentions how queerbaiting might lead to idols who approach the role inauthentically gaining more opportunities than actual members of the LGBTQI+ community.

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The same fan mentions how they are concerned that aside from representation being skewed, the rise in K-Pop idol BL castings will cause rifts in fandoms based on their beliefs in the matter.

Additionally, the rifts in those fandoms might fuel ill feelings toward the queer community in Korea.

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K-Pop is well-known for being apolitical due to the clean non-controversial image that agencies prefer for idols to keep. However, the BL genre introduces a new plane to the way that fandoms might engage with their idols and each other.

On a final note, another fan noted how the notion to only let openly LGBTQI+ idols play roles in BL dramas is flawed because any actor who takes on the role thereafter would unavoidably have to out themselves which might harm them more.

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It is clear that the debate about K-Pop idols being cast in BL dramas is nuanced with a lot of complex over and undertones. What is your take on the matter? Let us know in the comments.

Idols as Advocates of the LGBTQI+ Community

K-Pop Idols Turned BL Actors Who Have Defended the Community They Chose to Represent

As much as being cast in any acting role automatically implies to the audience that the actor is only taking on a work of fiction, thus the character shouldn't reflect on the actor...

The case becomes a little bit different when taking on roles that represent a group that is often subject to misrepresentation and stereotypical portrayals. For this reason, it is that much more important for actors and idols alike to take on these roles with sincerity and understand the queer space that they will signify.

Let's take a look at some of the perspectives that K-Pop idols have shared about the significance of their BL roles.

Kang InSoo, from the K-Pop group MYNAME, is another well-known BL actor who acted in the BL dramas "Wish You: Your Melody From My Heart" and "Nobleman Ryu's Wedding".

When asked if he had any concerns about playing a BL role, Kang InSoo said that the choice to play a queer character was not easy at first but after analyzing it, he understood that it was just a field of acting like many others and there was no problem at all.

A.C.E's Jun took on the role of Jung EunHo in the BL drama "Tinted With You". It was his first lead acting role, which meant a lot for the rise of his acting career. Just as it meant a lot for his career, taking the role also meant putting him at an equal risk of receiving backlash for playing the character.

However, this role was not Jun's first encounter with a BL drama. He has shown continuous effort to advocate for LGBTQI+ rights.

In 2021, Jun sang the OST of the hit BL drama "Light On Me". In an interview, Jun said that he hopes BL dramas like "Light On Me" and others in the future can help break down prejudices and create a more equal world for all.

Regarding his first time playing a gay character, Jun said that he thought about the role in great detail as he knew that he'd receive mixed responses about taking it on. His fellow A.C.E members told him that they were proud of him for taking on the challenge.

However, Jun made a point to share that he is open-minded about the LGBTQI+ community and respects everyone's values and decisions.

SF9's ZuHo is another idol who has received flack for taking on a BL drama role. He was recently cast in the upcoming web novel-based BL drama "Starstruck". He will be playing the lead character in a tale about a young man and his childhood friend who fall in love.

Whilst some FANTASY (SF9's fandom) were super excited about the announcement, some of his fans did not take to the news kindly. During a live broadcast, some fans expressed their distaste for him taking on the role through negative comments.

This could not shake ZuHo's resolve, though. ZuHo firmly stood his ground that no matter what project, drama, job, or love one takes on, everything that exists in the world should be seen as precious. He didn't play into his fans' opinions.

He emphasized,

"It'll be wrong to treat anything with prejudice and everything is precious and should receive love."

You can watch the full video here.

SF9 ZUHO's response after receiving homophobic comments for acting in an upcoming BL “#Starstruck #스타스트럭”.pic.twitter.com/abOKSgLqHN

— BL Update  (@BLUPDATE2022) October 24, 2022

In another incident, DKZ's JongHyeong was asked by a reporter whether he found it cringy when DKZ's JaeChan acted in "Semantic Error". This question is seen as homophobic as it implies that gay relationships are something to be cringed at instead of being acknowledged like straight relationships. However, JongHyeong replied that he didn't find it cringy at all because it's just a regular story about people living their lives like everyone else. He refused to differentiate the story because of the sexuality of its leads.

KIM JONGHYEONG FROM DKZ 🥹 pic.twitter.com/Givnw7Ukx7

— nemo 🧸 (@dkzism) November 16, 2022

These are only a few of the K-Pop idol BL actors who have made public statements regarding the LGBTQI+ community.

Many other idols have made statements and there are many idols that fans are eagerly awaiting to see on their BL screens in upcoming productions, too. These idols include people such as JUST B’s GeonU and JM in "Love Is Like A Cat" (2023), OMEGA X's JaeHan and YeChan in "A Shoulder To Cry On", VIXX's Leo in "A Happy Ending Romance" (Nov. 2022), and more, for example.

Non-BL-actor K-Pop idols who have spoken up for LGBTQI+ rights

However, it is important to note that some K-Pop idols have always been vocal on matters regarding queer representation.

Let's take a look at a couple of idols who have openly shown support for LGBTQI+ rights.

OnlyOneOf's YooJung and KB got a world of praise for the strong message of support that they showed through their artistry. For YooJung's solo single 'begin', the duo portrayed deep affection for each other but a relationship that couldn't begin due to prejudice.

The song tells the common story suffered by many where they can't be with who they truly love due to the prejudices they suffer.

The message in the music video's description especially touched fans. It reads:

"Among the countless lovers in the world, there are also lovers that couldn’t be blessed. For whatever reasons. Religious reasons, things like parents’ disapproval. I dedicate this song to all those lovers that couldn’t be blessed."

You can watch the full music video here.

In fact, the OnlyOneOf members have been cast in a BL called "Bump Up Business" which tells the tickling love story of two male idols who are not the best at expressing their feelings.

Many idols have shown their support for queer people during their concerts, as well.

BTS' V received praise for handing a flower to a member of the audience at their concert upon spotting their lesbian flag.

You can check out the clip here.

Taehyung/V from btshttps://t.co/9NBYP87w8Q

— evelyn💜 (@xiaoevefore) November 16, 2022

This has not been an occurrence limited to male K-Pop idols either.

Brave Girl's YuJeong saw a fan waving a pride flag at their concert and proceeded to take the flag and wear it throughout the song that they were performing. This received some backlash from Korean fans, showing how she was willing to show her support despite how her actions would be received.

Yujeong wearing the pride flag so proudly 🥹 I was actually clutching my heart the whole time 🏳️‍🌈🫶 #BraveGirlsInChicago #BraveGirls #BraveGirlsUSTour #RedSun pic.twitter.com/M7wak2HbVl

— lore ⁷✨ (@jxjlore) July 17, 2022

These are only a few instances in which idols have shown their support for the LGBTQI+ community and they are slowly but surely becoming more vocal.

It is also interesting to note that despite several female K-Pop idols having publicly voiced their support for the queer community, there is still not much movement in terms of casting female idols for GL dramas.

In fact, GL dramas have yet to see the same amount of production increase as BL dramas have in the past couple of years.

However, if you would like to see a list of Korean GL dramas and movies, check out this article - last updated in March 2022.

The Unglamorized Truth Of Being Queer: The Difference When an Openly LGBTQI+ K-Pop Idol Takes on a BL Drama

Whilst regular K-Pop idols can show their support through a number of actions and receive praise for it every time, one still needs to consider those who live the reality of the cause. As mentioned before, Korea is still a very conservative society which makes living as a queer person, especially in the entertainment field, more difficult than life for the average person.

Compared to the larger Korean entertainment industry, there are only a handful of artists who have come out and are promoting their work whilst being openly queer.

There have been idols/trainees who shared that they were kicked out of their companies after being discovered to be queer as well, such as KilliAN.

This might be part of the reason that some fans find issue with the rise in BL actor K-Pop idols. Whilst they may play the role of a queer character, the actuality is that for their queer counterparts the industry is not always as accepting or accessible.

Holland is well-known as the first openly gay K-Pop idol.

This has not come without its challenges for him. He has not only had struggles gaining access to the music industry due to stigmas against him by industry officials, but he lives through the realities faced by members of the LGBTQI+ in a conservative society such as his past homophobic physical attack and slander incident in May 2022.

I think it's because it's a career in which it's very important to be well-liked by the general public. So, the agencies don't welcome artists coming out. I was also advised against it.
Holland (for Hypebae)

Unlike the other K-Pop idols, Holland doesn't get the same luxury of playing a role and going back to a different reality. For him, the good, bad, and ugly of being queer is his reality. He has to deal with the real-life prejudice that other idols may not be exposed to.

I feel a lot of pressure because I know that my mistakes can really have a negative impact on LGBTQI+ rights. I really try to be cautious about my actions. I'm trying to be acknowledged by a lot of people as an artist that delivers positive messages and champions human rights through my music.
Holland (for Hypebae)

With this responsibility in mind, the beloved idol took on a role as Tommy in the BL drama "Ocean Likes Me". He mentioned taking on the role to diversify his talent and because he wanted to show people a new side of himself as an artist.

His participation in the drama meant a lot for LGBTQI+ representation as he played a character authentic to himself, creating an inclusive BL viewing experience.

As we mentioned earlier, there has been debate about leaving BL roles to openly LGBTQI+ people, which some fans do not agree with. Other fans believe that the opportunity should be given out equally and especially to those with the best acting ability.

Check out how this fan notes how all things aside, despite fans' personal opinions, Holland deserves applause for taking on this role as an openly LGBTQI+ person.

Reddit Screenshot

Perhaps the more important issue is to make sure that if an openly LGBTQI+ actor is not cast in a BL drama, the BL actor who takes on the role is fully equipped to understand what their role signifies. This is a responsibility that BL producers will have to consider heavily.

Again, the subject of BL acting and LGBTQI+ representation is nuanced. However, there is a commonality in most arguments about it. Whilst it is good that queer characters are receiving increased attention in the entertainment world, it is important that production companies, actors, K-Pop idols, and fans alike remember the community that this representation is serving.

What is your take on K-Pop idol castings rising in the Korean BL sphere? Do you think they are helping toward positive LGBTQI+ representation? Do you question the intention behind their roles? Let us know your thoughts on the topic in the comments!