KATSEYE's Lara & Megan to Holland: Out and proud LGBTQ+ K-pop idols you should know this pride month
It's Pride Month 2025 — and in the world of K-pop, visibility matters more than ever. K-pop idols already face immense pressure, with every aspect of their lives under constant scrutiny. For those who identify as LGBTQ+, that spotlight can feel even harsher.
In South Korea, being openly queer remains a bold — and often risky — decision. Coming out in the K-pop industry can still threaten one's career. Yet, a growing number of idols are choosing to live their truth — and in doing so, they're making history.
Holland
View this post on Instagram
He made history as the first openly gay K-pop idol — but the journey wasn't easy. With no entertainment agency willing to back an openly gay artist, Holland chose to forge his own path.
From the very beginning, his career has been entirely self-made. He worked two part-time jobs to fund his debut single Neverland, released in January 2018, and later turned to crowdfunding to release his first mini-album in 2019.
Jiae (formerly of WASSUP)
View this post on Instagram
The former member of WASSUP came out as bisexual in 2020 and revealed she was dating a woman. Two years later, she struggled to sign with a label, as the only openly bisexual idol in the industry. Undeterred, Jiae made her solo debut independently in October 2022 with her full-length album Love Is Love.
Bain (JUST B)
View this post on Instagram
He became the first active K-pop idol in a group to come out as gay. During a concert in Los Angeles in April 2025, the 23-year-old made the heartfelt announcement while performing a solo, saying, "I'm proud to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community — as a gay person."
He added, "To anyone out there who's part of the LGBTQ+ community, or still figuring it out — this is for you. You are seen, you are loved, and you were born this way," referencing Lady Gaga's anthem and calling her "my queen."
Lara Raj (KATSEYE)
View this post on Instagram
In March 2025, KATSEYE member Lara Raj came out as queer, becoming one of the few idols to do so while actively promoting. She shared the news with fans on Weverse, saying, "I knew I was half fruitcake when I was like eight." Lara expressed pride in her identity and credited her fans' support for helping her feel confident in embracing it.
Megan (KATSEYE)
View this post on Instagram
On June 6, 2025, KATSEYE's Megan publicly came out as bisexual. During a live Weverse broadcast with fellow member Lara, Megan announced, "I'm coming out. I'm bisexual." The moment quickly went viral as the two celebrated by jumping with joy, receiving overwhelming love from fans.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
9 minutes ago
- Indian Express
‘Song Joong Ki, did you hear that?' Yoo Jae Suk admits they drifted apart after his marriage: ‘it's awkward now'
Yoo Jae Suk believes his friendship with Song Joong Ki has changed ever since the latter got remarried, and it has since been awkward reaching out to him. In the latest episode of his YouTube talk show Pinggyego, Yoo hosted singer Lee Hyori as a guest. Together, they discussed a lot of things, including Lee's dream collaborations and new shows, but when the singer mentioned the Vincenzo star, the conversation took a personal turn. Meanwhile, Song has been less active in the industry lately, with fewer TV shows and projects. His upcoming K-drama My Youth is scheduled for a 2025 release. Also read: Squid Game director reveals real-world figures who inspired VIPs: 'They no longer hide behind a curtain' In the show, Lee Hyori shared that she got close to Song Joong Ki during their time working together on Running Man and said that he even appeared on her husband Lee Sang Soon's radio show recently, adding, 'He's very kind and friendly.' Yoo then joked, 'Why hasn't he come on Pinggyego yet?' and turned to the camera to tease Song Joong Ki: 'Joong Ki, did you hear that? Hyori-noona is calling you out.' But then the host revealed that their friendship has become distant lately. 'We used to contact each other from time to time, but after his marriage and everything, it feels a bit awkward to contact him now,' he said. To which Hyori responded, calming the tone, 'I also couldn't do programs with Yoo Jae-suk after getting married, and I haven't been able to contact him often either.' But Yoo then explained that with Joong Ki now married and raising two kids, he feels hesitant to bother him. 'His life has changed completely,' he added. The host said he didn't want to interrupt his busy schedule either. Also read: Squid Game Season 3 ending explained: The truth about Gi Hun's fate, the mystery woman, and all survivors Later in the episode, Lee Hyori opened up about wanting to get in touch with artists she respects a lot. She said she's been messaging people on Instagram because she doesn't have their phone numbers, and one of those people is BIGBANG member G-Dragon. 'I messaged G-Dragon and suggested we meet, but it hasn't happened yet. He replied and said he was interested in doing something together for this album,' Hyori said, hinting at a possible collaboration. Hyori added that she feels they have something in common and said, 'He talked about how, even after achieving fame and money, he still feels empty sometimes. I could relate to that. I have a great husband, but that emptiness doesn't have a clear reason.' Yoo Jae Suk responded proudly, 'You did all that without even knowing him personally? That's impressive.' As for Song Joong Ki, he confirmed his relationship with Katy Louise Saunders in late 2022. The announcement itself was no less than a shock to fans and the industry, as the actor revealed they had already registered their marriage and were expecting their first child. Upon returning to South Korea, he was instantly met with backlash and which emerged from rumours and public scrutiny surrounding the time he was married to his Descendants of the Sun co-star Song Hye Kyo. There were also baseless claims about his wife Katy being a single mother before their marriage. Song Joong Ki publicly expressed his anger and frustration over these 'unbelievable' and 'ridiculous' rumours. Their first child was born in June 2023, and the second in November 2024. The family currently lives in Italy. Katy herself is an actor with British and Colombian roots and grew up in Italy.
Pink Villa
5 hours ago
- Pink Villa
Tom Holland Spoils Spider-Man: Brand New Day with New Clip to Fan Announcing MCU Filming Plan, Here's All We Know
Tom Holland surely knows how to keep his fans happy. The actor recorded a video, sending best wishes to a fan from him and Chris Hemsworth. While in the clip that went viral on the internet, Holland also dropped a major update about his upcoming Marvel movie, Spider-Man: Brand New Day. While addressing a fan in his personalized video, the actor revealed that he will be starting the shoot for the MCU movie soon. According to the reports, the cast and crew of the upcoming film will be headed to the U.K. in mid-August to get the camera rolling. Spider-Man: Brand New Day is one of the highly anticipated movies, as not only is it expected to bring Peter Parker and MJ together, but the fans can also expect to witness the superhero fighting new and deadlier villains. What can be expected from Spider-Man: Brand New Day? Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the fourth movie of the franchise, and while the film will be released almost five years after the previous one, the makers are expected to continue with the storyline. In the final scenes of the 2021 movie, Parker is forgotten by everyone, including MJ and his best friend Ned. In the upcoming release, the fans will witness how Holland's character will rekindle his romance with MJ, while also fighting the new villains. According to the media reports, Silver Samurai and Vipra will join the anti-hero clan. The characters previously appeared as variants in the 2013 movie, The Wolverine. Moreover, it is confirmed that Jon Bernthal has joined the cast of Spider-Man 4. He will reprise his role of The Punisher in the movie, helping Holland beat the bad guys. As for the cast members of the upcoming film, Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Jacob Batalon will reprise their roles. The new joinees include Bernthal and the Stranger Things star Sadie Sink. Spider-Man: Brand New Day will hit theaters on July 31, 2026.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
Kings return: BTS rules June's singer brand rankings in their debut anniversary month; SEVENTEEN move to 3rd spot
The battle for the crown is back - the June 2025 singer brand reputation rankings are officially in! Unveiled by the Korean Business Research Institute, this month's results are fueled by massive waves of media buzz, fan engagement, and community impact, collected between May 27 and June 27. As the industry heats up with comebacks, tours, and surprise reunions, these rankings reveal which stars truly owned the spotlight in June. BTS reclaims the throne Celebrating their debut anniversary month, BTS soared back to No. 1 with a brand reputation index of 7,224,645, reflecting a 6.05% increase since May. From solo milestones to reunion moments, their impact continues to dominate across the board. Lim Young Woong holds steady at No. 2 Trot king Lim Young Woong secured second place with a strong score of 5,632,754, proving once again that his fan loyalty and consistent engagement remain unmatched in the soloist space. SEVENTEEN explodes into the top 3 Riding the wave of a successful comeback, SEVENTEEN jumped into third place with 5,463,326 points - a staggering 144.78% rise from last month. The group's digital impact and fan-driven momentum are impossible to ignore. BLACKPINK shines at No. 4 The 4 girls of BLACKPINK remain a fixture in the top tier, despite not releasing group music in years. They sit in the fourth spot with a brand reputation index of 4,378,334. Their global presence and brand power continue to speak volumes as they gear up for their world tour. BIGBANG returns to the top 5 Legends in their own right, BIGBANG made a surprise surge into fifth place with 3,668,126, boosted by a 43.80% increase from May. Their lasting legacy keeps them relevant, even in a new generation of idols. Top 30 Singer Brand Reputation Rankings – June 2025 6. IVE 7. aespa 8. PSY 9. Lee Chan Won 10. Red Velvet 11. ZO ZAZZ 12. TWICE 13. KiiiKiii 14. DAY6 15. ILLIT 16. OH MY GIRL 17. RIIZE 18. LE SSERAFIM 19. Young Tak 20. NCT 21. FIFTY FIFTY 22. (G)I-DLE 23. Car, the Garden 24. Jang Yoon Jung 25. TWS 26. QWER 27. Kang Daniel 28. BIBI 29. Park Jin Young 30. Hearts2Hearts For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
