Draft:LGBTQ+ in K-pop

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ+) community in South Korea has historically been closely linked to the entertainment industry. The K-pop industry has become a global phenomenon,. however with the rise in international interest comes increased criticism of the industry. While the sexualization and sexual exploitation in K-pop is one of the major themes getting attention, the LGBTQ+ representation and experiences are also coming to light. LGBT citizens of South Korean have few regulations in place to protect them from discrimination, especially in the workplace. It is therefore not unexpected that homophobia is prevalent nationally, however there has been an increase in LGBTQ+ representation in the Korean film and television industry.

LGBTQ+ Representation
Very few idols are open about their gender and sexuality. Below is a list of some notable individuals or groups:

While the following idols have not confirmed their membership to the LGBTQ+ community, they have contributed greatly to its representation in K-pop.
 * Harisu is the first transgender Korean entertainer, who debuted as a K-pop soloist in 2001.
 * LADY is the first K-pop group to consist solely of transgender women . They debuted in 2005, only to disband in 2007 after failing to achieve popularity in mainstream media.
 * MRSHLL is an Korean-American R&B singer and rapper who came out as gay in 2015 while pursuing a performing career in South Korea. He had several television performances before finally debuting in 2017 . He is regarded as the first openly gay Korean artist and his music, mostly in English, explores the queer experience.
 * Holland is the first openly gay idol, debuting as a soloist in 2018. His songs describes the experience of being homosexual in a violently homophobic environment.
 * Navinci, also known as Minsung or Hansol, is a soloist and former member of the group Xeno-T or ToppDogg. He came out as asexual using Instagram Live shortly after leaving the group in 2017.
 * Lionesses is the first K-pop group where all the members identify as gay . They debuted in 2021 with the song Show Me Your Pride


 * Amber Liu is a soloist and former member of the K-pop group f(x), having debuted in 2009 . She is well known for her androgynous appearance, often described as being a tomboy, and is credited for being a pioneer in how gender expression is defined in South Korea and its entertainment industry
 * OnlyOneOf is a K-pop group that debuted in 2019. They have become known for the homoerotic themes in their music videos such as libidO and skinz, as well as in the ongoing project Underground Idol, where each member releases a solo track with the accompanying music video depicting a gay romance with another member.
 * Several current and former idols have played gay characters in bl dramas, including A.C.E's Jun and ATO6's Yoo Hyonwoo in Tinted with Love, former The Boyz member Hwall, now known as Hur Huynjun, in Color Rush season 1 , VIXX's Hyuk in Color Rush season 2 and DONGKIZ's Park Jaechan and former KNK member Park Seoham in Semantic Error.

Discrimination within the Industry
One major reason why individuals aren't comfortable disclosing their membership to the LGBTQ+ community is because of the public backlash celebrities face. The first openly gay celebrity, Hong Seokcheon, a famous TV personality and actor, was fired in 2000 after disclosing his sexuality in an interview. Since then many idols and trainees have faced difficulties due to being LGBTQ+.
 * The K-pop group LADY was controversial from debut to disbanding due to their trans identity. Some are of the opinion that the group's creation was a marketing ploy brought on by the popularity of Harisu . They also received backlash when, in an effort to raise public awareness of the group, their management company released a photobook with nude images of the members.
 * MRSHLL struggled for years to get signed by a label, largely due to his sexuality being public, before finally signing with Feel Ghood Music . Likewise, Holland describes difficulties signing with an agency due to his insistence about being openly gay . He funds the release of his music independently, which includes having multiple jobs and crowdfunding . His music videos depict romantic scenes between males, which often results in being given a 19+ rating or being removed completely . He is also banned from performing at music shows.
 * In an interview with Sportskeeda the leader of Lionesses, Damjun, tells how his fear of being outed prevented him from pursuing his dream of becoming an idol . The group is not signed under a label, and all the members wear ornate masks. As of yet, Damjun is the only member to have revealed his face.

Queerbaiting
Many fans have accused K-pop agencies of queerbaiting, a practice in which appearances of and interactions with idols are scripted to appear ambiguous in terms of their romantic preferences. This is done to appease conservative fans, while allowing those that are more liberal to interpret these instances in a homoerotic manner. One way that this technique is employed is through skinship, where same sex idols, especially men, are openly affectionate with their members, frequently seen holding hands, hugging and cuddling. While platonic physical interaction in Korean males are not as rare as in the Western World, these interactions are overexaggerated to play into the yaoi fantasies of the fans, who in turn use it as fuel for fan services, such as writing fan fiction and creating art. Another example is how groups would participate in games where accidental homosexual interaction will take place, such as the "Paper Kiss Game", in which a piece paper is exchanged down a row of people by only using one's mouth, sucking the paper against one's lips.