In K-Pop there has been an increasing number of K-Pop idols addressing LGBTQ+ issues through their music videos. Many fans love the diversity and for Korean idols to speak out for the LGBTQ+ community. From the female couple in 'Heart Attack' by LOONA's Chuu to the representation of Korea's first openly gay idol, Holland, K-Pop's inclusivity has grown over the years.

We enjoy many groups speaking out and using their platform to support the community. A major way they have shown this is through their music videos. Here are some K-Pop music videos with LGBTQ+ themes that showcase how the genre has become more inclusive over the years. We hope many more groups and idols will openly talk about LGBTQ+ themes and relationships.

 

1. 'Neverland' by Holland

Holland is the very first K-Pop singer in the music industry to come out openly as gay, especially at his debut. In his music video, he portrays the dating scenes of a same-sex couple. They go to the beach, drink together, and overall enjoy each other's company like all couples do. In addition to that, there's a scene where he kissed the male actor that took many by surprise. He has been receiving words of encouragement and support from his fans for being proud of who he is. Holland is not afraid to speak up for the community and he continues to show many stories and themes of same-sex couples through all of his works.

 

2. 'Heart Attack' by LOONA's Chuu

LOONA Chuu's music video became widely popular as the music video addresses liking someone of the same sex. In the music video, Chuu was seen having a crush on a fellow member of LOONA, Yves. For every action done by Yves, Chuu would feel fluttered. With her unique concept, her music video is well-received especially from fans in Europe. In addition to that, Billboard had also written an article praising her music video at the start of 2018. The video is refreshing and adorable. We love seeing the interactions between the couple and Chuu swooning over the girl she has a crush on in the video.

 

3. 'All In' by MONSTA X

'All In' by MONSTA X had a storyline that was interesting and complex but also featured a same-sex couple between the members, HyungWon and MinHyuk. It is hard to deny that the two were portrayed as a couple in the MV and it explores their relationship further as the story progresses. Not only that, the trilogy albums that 'All In' is featured in spells out LGBT with the words Lost, Guilty, Beautiful, and Trilogy.

 

4. 'begin' by OnlyOneOf's YooJung

OnlyOneOf has been very open about their support for the LGBTQ+ community and are never afraid to show it through their works. Their member YooJung portrayed these themes in his solo music video for 'begin'. In the video, YooJung seems to have a crush on another man who often visits his workplace. Not only does the video show the progression between the two, but the lyrics of the song talk about YooJung wanting to embrace the man and queerphobia's effect on the couple as they cannot seem to begin anything due to society's bias.

 

5. 'Please Don't' by K.Will

If you're a veteran K-Pop fan, you might be familiar with K. Will's famous music video for 'Please Don't'. The music video tells a very devastating story. The main character, Seo InGuk, is in turmoil over his best friend and best friend's girlfriend planning for their wedding. Throughout the video, an illusion of the girlfriend is in the car with him and he stares at the wedding photo of the couple. InGuk can't seem to take his eyes off her and even rips the photo in half to express his anger. However, many fans were shocked by a plot twist. InGuk was actually in love with his best friend and imagined the man was in the car the whole time. Many fans were surprised by the twist and it shows the sad reality of many LGBTQ+ members who have not come out to those around them.

Curious to know if there are any K-Pop idols or Korean celebrities who represent the LGBTQ+ community in South Korea? Keep reading to find out!

 

WHAT IS LGBTQ+?

The LGBTQ+ acronym refers to the community of people who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (or Questioning). The plus sign (+) denotes other sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions that the initial letters do not explicitly cover. The purpose of this acronym is to encompass the diverse range of identities within the community and promote inclusivity. It is crucial that we celebrate and support this inclusivity.

In recent years, as queer representation has improved in the Korean entertainment industry, quite a few K-Pop artists have come out as a part of the LGBTQ+ community. Check out some of them below!

 

Som HeVin

Som HeVin, who appeared on the survival show "Idol School" as a contestant, is openly bisexual.

 

JiAe (formerly of WA$$UP)

JiAe publicly came out as bisexual and revealed that she is dating a woman.

 

Holland

Holland is currently one of the most well-known openly gay K-Pop artists in the industry.

 

MRSHLL

Marshall Bang a.k.a MRSHLL came to South Korea with dreams of becoming a K-Pop star. He is the first openly gay K-Pop artist.

 

LADY

LADY was a K-Pop group made up of four transgender members. The group disbanded in 2007.

 

HanBit

HanBit debuted in the girl group Mercury back in 2016. In 2006, she underwent gender-affirming surgery with the support of her parents, transitioning from male to female.

 

Harisu

One of the early well-known transgender figures in South Korea, Harisu underwent gender-affirming surgery in the 1990s, a period when transgender visibility was relatively limited in the country compared to the present day.

 

SeungHo & B.Nish (D.I.P)

D.I.P members SeungHo and B.Nish were said to be in a relationship. It is unclear whether they are still together.

 

Maman

Maman debuted back in 2007 as Magolpy but later changed her stage name. She parted ways with her agency after coming out as a lesbian.

 

Kim MinSung a.k.a Navinci (formerly known as HanSol of Topp Dogg)

Kim MinSung publicly came out as asexual. His previous statements have emphasized that he does not feel attracted to anyone.

 

Hong SeokCheon

While not a K-Pop idol, Hong SeokCheon's influence in the K-Pop industry and the Korean entertainment industry at large is undeniable. He is openly gay.

 

Ever since the first season of "Heart Signal", Korean entertainment has seen an increase in various dating programs. Now, with the success of shows like "Single's Inferno", "Transit Love", and the recent conclusion of "Heart Signal 4", Korean dating shows have risen in popularity, mesmerizing the entire world in the process.

Mnet has released its fair share with the "Love Catcher" series and dancer-based "Somebody". However, it is set to release a brand new dating reality show featuring the LGBTQ+ community!

This new dating show is titled "Dizzying Blind DateZ" and will feature comedian Lee EunJi as its regular host. In the previews, TV personality Hong SeokCheon also makes an appearance, raising expectations for the dating program to new heights.

The show is set to release on September 6th with the focus on one main man, Kim ChangMin, looking for love. He goes on dates with various contestants, inclduing openly queer singer Holland. They all hope to walk away as winners in this game of romance. The participants will enter in pairs, forcing Kim ChangMin to choose between the two before there's only one left. They go on multiple dates and engage in a number of different activities. From spending time in a mudflat to sharing a poolside drink, the possibilities are endless.

You can check out the trailer for the series down below!

Are you excited to watch "Dizzying Blind DateZ"? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!