Bain's Bold Move: K-Pop Star Redefines Freedom with Historic Coming Out

[andy]

Seoul, Korea – K-pop isn't just about chart-topping hits anymore; it's about breaking barriers. And at the forefront of this seismic shift is Just B's Bain, the 24-year-old idol whose recent coming out has sent shockwaves through the industry, marking him as the first active male K-pop group member to openly declare he's gay. His message is clear: "I can finally be free."

Speaking from Seoul with The Hollywood Reporter, the blue-haired singer recounted the electrifying moment in Los Angeles that changed everything. During a solo performance of Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" on Just B's U.S. tour, an unplanned, yet powerful, impulse took hold. "I didn’t actually mean to come out," he explained, "but I felt like I’d lose my chance if I didn’t take it now. It almost felt like a sign from above."

Clad in a dramatic fur coat and sunglasses at Hollywood's Vermont, Bain addressed the roaring crowd: "I’m f***ing proud to be a part of the gay community — as a gay person." He paid homage to Gaga for inspiring him that "being different is beautiful" and shared a message of solidarity: "To anyone out there who’s part of the gay community or still figuring it out; this is for you guys. You are seen, you are loved and you were ‘Born This Way.’”

This revelation is unprecedented in K-pop. It's a moment as significant as Ellen DeGeneres' 90s TV coming out, especially in South Korea where gay rights are slowly progressing (evidenced by a recent landmark health insurance ruling), but public figures rarely identify as gay. Bain joins an elite, brave few.

Bluedot Entertainment, his label, and his Just B bandmates were aware of his sexuality for two years prior. While "certain concerns of public acceptance" were present, Bain affirmed, "overall they really wanted me to fully show and express myself onstage.”

Bain isn't one to shy away from "real matters." He openly admits a preference for the "iconic" over the "boring," driven by a pursuit of "dopamine."

Crucially, this isn't an end to a journey, but "a new start." Bain believes this openness is "broadening my horizons," inspiring him to "dream bigger," including potential U.S. acting roles ("a gay friend in a teen drama") and solo work to tell his authentic stories.

While the initial deluge of public comments, both positive and negative, was "a bit difficult," Bain now embraces it. "If you want to talk about me, please talk away. Good or bad. I welcome it.” His ultimate hope: to empower other queer K-pop artists to embrace their true selves.