Bain says K-pop bandmates rallied behind him after he came out to them

Just B member Bain, who recently made history as the first active K-pop boy group idol to come out as gay, received overwhelming support from his groupmates after coming out to them first. “It’s been about two years since I came out to my members and the company,” the 23-year-old, whose real name is Song Byeong-hee, told Dazed.

He said he first confided in fellow member Geonu before another bandmate, Jimin, directly asked him about his sexuality during a group conversation. “Jimin’s words gave me the strength to speak up and be honest about who I am. The members accepted me with calmness and warmth, smiling and nodding as if they’d already known,” he shared.

Bain came out during the group’s world tour concert at The Vermont Hollywood in Los Angeles on April 22. Fellow member Siwoo later shared on fan platform Fromm, “Byunghee (Bain) was amazing. Applause for his courage. I was watching backstage, and I teared up. Knowing how hard and painful this must’ve been, it hit me even harder.”

The rising idol’s announcement represents a watershed moment in K-pop, known for its strict control over artists’ personal lives, especially in conservative South Korea where LGBTQ+ rights remain limited.