Global Celebrities Advocate for LGBTQ+ Rights Amidst Cultural Challenges

Renowned celebrities, including actress Youn Yuh-jung, the band Coldplay, BLACKPINK's Jennie, and MAMAMOO's Wheein, are expressing their support for the queer community.

According to reports on the 20th, Youn Yuh-jung revealed in an interview that her eldest son is gay and had a same-sex marriage in New York. She stated, "My eldest son came out as gay in 2000," adding, "He got married in New York when same-sex marriage was legalized there." She continued, "Since it was still a secret in Korea, the whole family went to New York," and expressed uncertainty about the reaction upon returning to Korea, saying, "They might throw books at me." She also expressed hope for Korea to open its mind, though she remains unsure.

Coldplay, performing six concerts in Korea from the 16th to the 25th, is known as a queer-friendly artist. They are famous for using rainbow colors on stage and album covers. Their current concert venues are also filled with rainbow colors.

Lead vocalist Chris Martin has previously performed with the 'Pride' flag, representing LGBTQ+ individuals, draped over his face while singing "People of the Pride." This song conveys the message of "loving whoever you want freely" and is embraced as an anthem for the LGBTQ+ community.

In the Korean music industry, content reflecting queer narratives is gradually emerging. Jennie's "Mantra" and BIBI's "DERRE" are interpreted as songs that metaphorically reflect queer sensibilities. In 2019, MAMAMOO's Wheein conveyed the message "There are various kinds of love" and included queer themes in the music video for "Goodbye." The video portrays a narrative of a female art teacher leaving her female lover to marry a man.

However, this topic remains controversial. While the societal atmosphere is becoming more open, especially among the 20s and 30s, it has not yet reached a level of widespread acceptance in Korea. Globally, conflicts over queer themes continue. Coldplay faced related issues during their past performances, such as in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2023, where Muslim groups opposed LGBTQ+ themes and demanded concert cancellations.

Opinions on the topic of 'queer' are clearly divided. However, it is undeniable that this theme is gradually permeating mainstream culture compared to the past.

By Min-Kyung Lee, TenAsia Reporter 2min_ror@tenasia.co.kr