South Korea has seen the support for the LBGTQ+ community grow over the years. However, the LGBTQ+ community still faces discrimination within the country. There are no anti-discrimination laws to safeguard LGBTQ+ rights. Moreover, there is no recognition of same-sex partnerships. With that being said, the K-pop idols in South Korea have taken a stand to speak up about LGBTQ+ rights in recent times.
Take a look at the most vocal K-pop idols:
K-pop Idols Who Supported LGBTQ+ Rights
BTS’ RM and Jungkook
BTS leader RM urged the youth to speak up in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly 2018.
“I want to hear your voice,” he said. “I want to hear your conviction. No matter where you’re from, skin, colour, gender identity, just speak for yourself. Find your name [and] find your voice.”
Moreover, RM recommended Sivan’s Strawberries & Cigarettes track from the coming-of-age gay film, Love, Simon on his twitter account.
Holland
Holland caused quite a stir with his debut music video which featured a same-sex kiss. However, the stir was of a good kind as the video had more than a million views in 24 hours. he told Vogue UK, “I believe the music I make, the messages I deliver to my fans and the meaning of my existence itself influences people.”
Sunmi
The K-pop idol took a stand for LGBTQ+ rights when she carried a rainbow flag at a concert in Amsterdam. While she doesn’t identify as LGBTQ+, fans have dubbed her “LGBT Queen”.
Tiffany Young
Tiffany Young expressed her “gratitude and love” to the LGBTQ+ community for having given “love, beauty, inspiration, and light in every corner of the world” in an open letter for Billboard.