Broadcast personality Hong Suk Chun expressed his heartfelt support after Just B's member Bain (Song Byeonghee) came out as a member of the LGBTQ community, marking a significant milestone in Korean entertainment, 25 years after Hong's own coming out.
In a phone interview with Xportnews on the 25th, Hong Suk Chun revealed his excitement and emotional reaction to the news of Bain's coming out. "It's a fresh shock and a welcome update for me," he said. "It's been 25 years, and I honestly didn't expect it to take this long."
On the 22nd, Bain came out publicly during Just B's World Tour 'JUST ODD' concert in Los Angeles. He proudly declared, "I am proud to be a member of the LGBTQ community," using the acronym LGBTG, which stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer.
This marks the first time in 25 years that a male celebrity has come out in Korea since Hong Suk Chun made history as the first male celebrity to reveal his sexual identity in 2000. While there have been other LGBTQ confessions in K-pop, such as Jiae from the girl group Wassup in 2021 and KATSEYE's Lara earlier this year, Bain's coming out as a male idol is groundbreaking.
Hong Suk Chun celebrated Bain's courage, saying, "This is something that deserves congratulations, especially for him." He added, "It’s a huge step for male idols to do this."
Reflecting on the long wait for another male idol to come out, Hong expressed surprise at the delay. "I never imagined it would take this long. I thought there would be more people speaking out, not just within entertainment but also in our society," he shared.
Hong continued, "To have someone speak up like this in the industry today is both a refreshing shock and a heartwarming piece of news for me."
While Hong Suk Chun has not met Bain personally, he empathized with the young idol, wondering about the struggles and thoughts Bain had before making his decision. "I can’t imagine how hard it must have been for him to come to this decision. I wonder how much he has had to endure," Hong said. "Though the circumstances may differ from when I made my decision, Bain is still young, and the fact that he made this decision shows that he has strong convictions. He will need to be prepared to face everything that comes with this."
Hong also expressed concern about the challenges Bain may face in the future, despite the current outpouring of support. "There will undoubtedly be people who oppose him, especially considering the nature of his career in entertainment," Hong noted. "It's important for him to stay strong and resilient, to continue pursuing his dreams and not be swayed by those negative voices. The courage to come out is immense, but the courage to stay true to oneself afterward is even more critical."
It has been 25 years since Hong Suk Chun came out publicly. Bain's revelation as a male K-pop idol is a remarkable moment in the industry. Hong Suk Chun faced significant backlash, even being pushed out of the broadcast industry for his decision. However, he weathered the storm of prejudice and endured for 25 years. His continued support for Bain adds a layer of warmth to this historic moment, and many are now applauding both of their courage.
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