The ban was in half the way in April night when the ban was in half the way through his band’s Los Angeles concert.

In an oversized fur coat and black sunglasses, the 24-year-old K-Pop star told thousands of fans: “Before I start the next song, I want to share something with you guys.”

A brief stagnation and then: “I [expletive] Proud to be part of the LGBTQ community! ,

The crowd thundered and shouted applause because the ban laidy broke into Gaga’s proud anthem: “Just put your claws up,” because you were born in this way, children “.

At that moment, as he came out for the world, he was not nervous, he tells the BBC in an interview in his studio in Seoul – rather, he was trying to “calm the sound”.

A handful of -pop artists have emerged as gay in recent years – but no one is publicly as banned.

Even in 2025, it is a bold step in South Korea’s entertainment industry, where stars are placed for impossible standards. It is condemnable to accept an heterosexual relationship.

“There were some people in the industry who knew [I was thinking of coming out] And warned me against it, saying that it would be a risk, “Ban says.” And of course I thought of the risk – that we can lose fans.

“But then I thought, society is changing … I can get more than I can lose.”

This is a big question: Has he opened the door to convert into an industry that has become global, but a conservative lies deeply in South Korea?

Ban, whose real name is Song Bayonghi, says he was in a secondary school, around 12 years old when he realized that he was gay.

Shortly thereafter, he decided to become K -Pop Trainee, but he kept his sexuality secret – he felt “not allowed to be gay”.

“It was not something I had questioned … I felt that I had no choice,” they say. “There was no one else [around me that was gay]I felt that I could only show off and was walking. ,

Rich, modern South Korea is still traditional in many ways. Powerful yet conservative churches often see homosexuality as disability or sin. And the same-sex marriage is not legally recognized.

In 2021, Bain made his debut as part of a six -member boyband, Just B. He has released several albums and participated in the reality shows, earning a dedicated audience.

But through all this, the years of hiding a part of themselves took a toll on the ban.

“I was overwhelmed, I thought maybe I could not be an idol. I felt that I was hiding a lot. I decided to talk to my mother.”

He was about three years ago. Her mother was the first person of her family to find out: “We talked for an hour, and I finally said,” I love women more than women. ” When she knew. ,

His response was difficult for him. “Honestly, she did not like it – not at first. She said that she felt that I can overcome it, maybe I am like women someday. She feels unhappy … that I will now face bad reactions from others. [she] Said, ‘You are my son, so I love you, I support you, I love you.’ It was mixed. I was sad, but in the end she said she loves me. ,

Then his team members and the company started encouraging him to jump – and tell the world.

Earlier this year, the band began a world tour, and at the last stop of his American tour, Bain decided to come out on stage.

Since then, the band has been emphasized in the spotlight – Bain gave countless interviews as it quickly became the new face of the Korean LGBTQ community.

“I think I have changed a lot since coming out. I feel more confident. When I meet someone new, I show who I am immediately,” they say. “But I also feel sad that my identity is now such a big thing.”

Over time, he expects, people will stop saying that “Oh, he is gay, but rather, oh, who is it just who he”.

When South Korean actor Hong Sek-Chaion came out as gay in 2000, LGBTQ representation actually entered the country’s mainstream.

He was the first Korean celebrity to open about his sexuality – and it came to a cost. He was removed from TV shows and advertisements.

The attitudes have definitely changed since then. A Puy Survey of 2019 showed that the number of people accepting homosexuality has increased from 25% to 44% in 2002.

And yet, only a handful of other celebrities have surfaced. In 2018, Holland became the first openly gay-pap artist in the country and, in 2020, came as a former member of the girl Group Wassup, Jia, Bisexual. Both have said that they found it difficult to sign with a record label as a result.

Ban’s announcement, however, is celebrated by both fans and the LGBTQ community of South Korea.

The 26 -year -old Korean transgender woman says, “When someone comes out like an idol, it is understood by people like me that we are not alone,” says a 26 -year -old Korean transgender woman who does not want to name.

“It brings comfort … I think, perhaps I am fine the way I am.”

Online too, most of the comments have been positive. In a Youtube comment, a gay fan wrote how he was encouraged by ban, “disgusting comments” and “feeling so disappointed” on discrimination.

“But thanks to the ban, I have got the courage to keep going.”

International fans have particularly made him happy: “After the initial shock, I started crying,” said Lee, a C-Pop fan from the US, said, who identifies as gay.

“Knowing that Korea still had some suppression against LGBTQ people, bravery and courage they came out and displayed …[was] Commendable. ,

Cultural footprints of South Korea are growing globally, and who have brought fans from everywhere, with their own attitude and beliefs. They can reopen the K-Pop industry well.

But it will take time. And this is clear in the range of comments in response to the announcement of the ban – rejection to apathy.

For one, the country has seen an increase in right wing, often taking advantage of anti -feminist beliefs in young men, which oppose any challenge to traditional gender roles.

And those roles remain strong in South Korea. Government and Church champions encourage traditional family values, youth to marry and produce children so that they can increase the birth rate, currently the lowest in the world.

Given all this, it may not be surprising that homosexuality is still a taboo, even in a global industry like K-Pop.

This is a world where couples do not even talk about their personal life directly, critics Lim-or say.

“K-pap has spent almost 25 years to avoid the subject of sexuality [altogether]Even heterosexual relationships are hidden to protect fan fantasies. ,

Bain, he says, “a symbolic and powerful way has challenged that silence. I believe it is a major moment”.

But he believes that fans have reacted in a very different way – “it can be explosive” – ​​if a global bo’s member came out as a gay member.

“Ban’s case was important, but their group is not as famous [so] It did not stir at the same domestic level, “Sri Lim says.

Bain has definitely helped to raise awareness, he agrees. “This is a slow process, but we are seeing more public figures or materials are being made around these LGBTQ issues.”

But there is no possibility of immediate change in the K-Pop or entertainment industry, according to them.

“This is not just a social issue – it is a market issue. Male idols usually have a very big female fanbase … [and] If you find out that your favorite male idol is gay, it can shatter the confusion that you can one day be the purpose of his affection, “they say.

“So if they do [come out] They take risks by shaking the foundation on their fandum. ,

However, Bain says that his decision would be worth it if “the strength or interest or interest of a person in the ke-pap”.

“I have pretended so long … I realized that because I came out, others also felt safe to do so.”

The day he came out, he remembers, many fans approached him, saying that he was gay or gay, talking about his identity.

“They thanked me and I thought myself ‘I should have done it soon.”