Courageous Coming Outs: Celebrities and Their Families Embrace LGBTQ+ Identities

The recent coming out of 'Steel Troops W' star Kwak Sun-hee has reignited discussions about celebrities and their families embracing their LGBTQ+ identities. While coming out once led to societal backlash and career setbacks, there is now a growing trend of support and encouragement for such brave declarations.

On the 13th, Kwak Sun-hee, who shone as the leader of the Army team on 'Steel Troops W,' shared a heartfelt photo with her same-sex partner on social media. Two days later, Kwak expressed gratitude for the supportive messages she received, stating, "I hope those who love like us find courage. We all have the right to be happy."

In April, actress Youn Yuh-jung revealed in an interview with a U.S. media outlet that her eldest son is gay. She shared, "My son came out in 2000, and we held a wedding for him when same-sex marriage was legalized in New York. We kept it a secret in Korea, so the whole family went to New York." Youn added with a smile, "I now love my son's partner more than my son."

The music industry has also seen its share of coming outs. In the same month, Bae In of the group JUST B proudly declared his membership in the LGBTQ+ community during their 'JUST ODD' tour in Los Angeles. LGBTQ+ is an umbrella term for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals.

In March, Lara from the global girl group KATSEYE shared on the fan platform Weverse, "I like the same sex. I'm proud of myself and not ashamed of my identity. It's a part of me." Lara thanked her fans for their warmth and support, which helped her embrace her identity with confidence.

In 2000, broadcaster Hong Seok-cheon became the first Korean celebrity to come out as a sexual minority. Although he faced backlash and was removed from several shows and advertisements, he embraced his identity and continued his career, becoming a symbolic figure for the LGBTQ+ community.

For celebrities, coming out requires immense courage, as it can lead to lifelong stigmatization and career challenges. However, their brave choices to live authentically provide strength and inspiration to many others in similar situations.

By Se-yoon Jung, TenAsia Reporter yoon@tenasia.co.kr