Socio-Cultural

Homophobia in K-pop

Written by Megan On November 21, 2011

Nobody likes to talk about sexuality. There’s a reason why one of the most common ways to deal with being gay is to ”stay in the closet”: it’s social taboo to talk about it. The consensus seems to be that if you’re gay/lesbian/bisexual/pansexual, you shut your mouth and let everyone assume that you’re straight. This is commonly called heteronormativity: straight until proven gay. And nowhere do I see this phenomenon more than in South Korea, and in the K-pop scene.

To clarify, I’m not specifically trying to pick on just K-pop and South Korea. Discrimination against gay people is pervasive in modern society, both inside Asia and outside of it. But I did happen across a piece of news not so long ago that stuck in my mind, and compelled me to climb up on my soapbox now. Back in October, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education disclosed an amended draft for an ordinance to guarantee students human rights. Most of these, such as freedom of speech, and right to assemble were expected. However, Article 7, Clause 1, which which guaranteed students the right to face no discrimination on the basis of sexuality, touched a nerve with both parents and teachers. Many claimed that it was just asking for trouble, and the clause was dangerous in nature because it would “promote homosexuality”.

The thing one has to understand about South Korea is that homosexuality is even more taboo than in the West. Because of its culture, which is deeply rooted in Confucianism, society revolves around the traditional family unit: man, wife, grandparents, and children. To be gay is to break with that most basic tenet of society. Accordingly, many in the older generation can hardly comprehend homosexuality. It’s seen as a strange, disturbing Western phenomenon, best kept far away from the young generation lest they be poisoned by it.

Which brings me to my next point, concerning K-pop. Just take a little time and browse some K-pop videos on YouTube. Odds are, on at least one video by a boy group, you’re going to see a comment along these lines:”See, this is why K-pop and Korea are superior to America! Because boys can look and act like this and not be accused of being gay!” This is hardly anything to celebrate. In fact, this is precisely the problem. People pretend that homosexuality doesn’t exist. It wouldn’t matter if a boy group member snogged his bandmates in public (ahem, Heechul), because it’s nothing. It’s just fanservice, they’re just close like brothers, is all. No way my oppas are gay! Even if an idol was to stand up on a table and scream at the top of their lungs that they were gay, it would mean nothing. This acceptance of behavior commonly pegged as gay in the West isn’t acceptance at all. It’s discrimination so strong it assumes that homosexuality doesn’t even really exist.

If anything positive can be said for the sociocultural stereotypes of gay people in the West, it allows that homosexuality exists, and isn’t necessarily a mental disease, delusion, or defect. It provides a community and perhaps even a subtle way for a gay person to out themselves, without having to hold a press conference and be trapped in vain trying to convince determined, delusional fangirls. A gay person in K-pop, however, will never have this opportunity. Let’s not play stupid now; there has to be at least a few gay people in K-pop, perhaps even in your favorite groups. Given that it’s the showbiz, it’s even likelier that there’s more gays than usual. But not one will ever be able to out his or herself. There is not a single idol in the current industry that has admitted to being gay. Not a single one. On programs, they will even stress “no homo” when they compliment their fellow members.

As screwed up as this is, I can’t blame them. Just look at what happened to Hong Seok-Cheon. One moment, a star entertainer, the next, fired, a pariah, and pressured by parents to just stop being gay. Of course, in the years since, he’s been creeping back into the spot light. He has television appearances now and then, and owns a few restauraunts in Itaewon. It’s nothing compared to what his career used to be though, and there’s only one reason why his career crashed in the first place: he admitted to being gay.

His outing did open social discourse, though, forcing people who never though about “gay” to open their eyes and faced the fact that homosexual people do exist. Society is slowly shifting, as well. If all the backlash against the proposed ordinance for students’ rights proves that society is still backwards and hostile, then the fact that it was proposed in the first place proves that society is trying to move in the right direction. The sad fact is, though, society will never change fast enough to help young, gay idols of this generation, who will never be able to come out of the closet for fear of become social pariahs and sabotaging their group’s success. I appreciate that idols are able to cavort on stage and wear fabulous clothes without being shouted down, but it breaks my heart at the same time. This is not tolerance, and it certainly isn’t justice.

What do you think of the issue of homophobia in South Korea?

(Korea Joogang Daily, University of Hawaii, ABC News, Hancinema)

TAGS: Heechul, Hong Seok-Cheon

chingu
To me, living a country where gay marriage has been legal since 2005, the whole thing seems ridiculous and over-blown. Not only that, but it’s deeply unfair. I notice you have used SHINee as your header, these boys debuted at the height of “fanservice” the way paved for them by their lablemates (hello Yunjae). How confusing must it be as a young man, surrounded by other very pretty young men, with no hope of having a real girlfriend, knowing the abuse you would suffer if you pushed the fanservice to far, yet the idea of your homosexuality egged on by thousands of screaming girls?
I think Megan has nailed the point, S. Korea shouldn’t pat itself on the back becuase it sweeps the idea of homosexuality under the rug, it’s got to accept it. Gay people exist, in the world, in Asia, and in K-pop. If it’s truely too hard to believe that (and it really, really shouldn’t be) then for goodness sake stop sending these boys mixed messages, they should be free to choose how and to whom they express affection.
Anonymous
Well rather than South Korea, I think all Asian countries suffer from a similar plight. Even my parents who are generally open minded about a lot of stuff, balk at the mention of someone being gay- they consider it abnormal, and perhaps even a mental disorder. The U.S. isn’t any better. My bf’s dad threw a fit when he realized NYC legalized gay marriages. It’s easy for our generation to scoff at their narrow mindedness, but society makes it very hard for them to accept people who are different from the norm. They’ve essentially grown up in a world where a different sexual preference was branded wrong.
In a way I think kpop allows certain individuals to flaunt their personality. Any guy wearing tight pants is considered pretty gay in the states. But in Korea you can get away with it without any repercussions. Sure, it allows Korean society to continue their delusion, but at least some of these people can push boundaries and still not be considered gay. Heechul here would be called a mad number of things. It’s a double edged sword.
Anonymous
Homosexuality and homophobia is definitely something that needs to be addressed. Not just in Asia, but in the West as well. Just because we here in the States can sue any company, person, etc. for discrimination and hate crimes against us for our orientation, doesn’t mean that we are any more advanced in LBGT rights. Homosexual couples can’t be legally joined as in a marriage in all 50 states. They face a harder time adopting a child opposed to a man and wife, even if the homosexual couple would make better parents to an extent (how good they would be depends on the child’s gender. There are some things that not even the most feminine gay man can understand about females.). Schools are trying to crack down on bullying, but even now there are laws being considered to give bullies a pass if they can prove that they’re doing it based on “moral or religious convictions.” i.e Don’t bully/haze/kill/perform “corrective” rape on someone unless they offend your Christianity by their gayness – even if they aren’t gay and they just seem that way (because to conservatives, metrosexuals and tomboys are the same as gays and butch lesbians just because they dress and think differently).
I definitely agree that it’s even more damaging to deny the existence of homosexuality as opposed to outright disagreement of it. And if anything, it’s very hypocritical considering all the pairings of idols (male/female, male/male, female/female) that fangirls do in fanfiction, etc. and all the comments about JongKey, Yoosu, YunJae, Amber and Krystal, etc. All the fanfiction shows that yes, fanboys and fangirls do imagine that maybe their favorite idol is indeed not straight. However, any speculation outside of fanfiction is outright denied and swept under the rug because society deems it wrong and if you admit to having those thoughts, then it puts you in the hot seat. Unfortunately, no one wants to be accused of being gay/lesbian or maybe not even bi. The safest orientation is straightness, followed maybe by bi-curious. The thing that people fail to understand is society will not crumble or cease to exist. There will not be a significant reduction in child birth with the full acceptance of homosexuality. Throughout history, heterosexuals have always outnumbered homosexuals and perhaps bisexuals/pansexuals, so it really makes 0 sense to freak out over the destruction of the “traditional family unit” because of that. Rise in divorce and single parent households are a more common threat to “traditional family units” than homosexuality will ever be.
Apologies if I don’t make a ton of sense in the way I presented my argument, but this is a subject that really burns me up.
Oh Ji’s Ho
I think it is sad the way people react to homosexuality both there and here, but even though the US has a ways to go, I believe we have come far thanks to some very brave people that remained true to themselves despite the fallout. The thing that gets me the most about Korea’s reaction to it though is that the fangirls love the guy on guy, but as long as ‘no homo’. That seems like an oximoron – it’s okay for them to act out fangirl fantasies, but not okay for them to ruin the illusion by actually being gay? How utterly stupid. I often wonder how many of them are actually gay, but have to hide it due to fear.
Anonymous
I can understand why people would get confused on this matter, because I’m a little confused by it. I have different standards for Kpop than I do my own culture, but I often like to look at Kpop through an American POV, giving the stars the same criticisms I would an American celebrity, and many Kpop idols do come off as gay. Strongly gay. Fan-service is all fun and games in Asia but people would take it very seriously in the US because there isn’t fan service here of that sort. And then there’s also yaoi, which also leads people to believe that Asian societies are highly acceptive of homosexuality. Have you ever seen yaoi? Rarely ever is homophobia addressed in it. So Asia does often give off the image of being very gay friendly, although it’s really the opposite. Fan service is weird and confuses me. Stars do it to please their fans but if it was legit, the fans would not be pleased.
Most of the shippings in Kpop I find ridiculous. I don’t think Amber is a lesbian because she’s tomboyish, or that “TaeNy” (Taeyeon/Tiffany) is real, or that most Kpop men are gay for each other. Still, there are some that I question. I would not be surprised if JongKey or YunJae were real at some point, nor would I care. I keep seeing strong fan service coming from that new group, MyName, leading me to believe that the two boys (can’t remember names) are gay, though they might just be trying to get publicity and fans. More often than not, I’m just given the impression that idols are just joking around.
People like to bring up homosexuality in the States, so I’ll throw my two bits in. In my experience, it’s where you go and who you talk to. Some people are strongly homophobic and very verbal about it while there are many others that are very pro gay rights. I go to high school, and you wouldn’t believe how many loud and proud gay people there are at my high school. One of my friends is gay, very obviously so, but is quite popular and well-liked by nearly everyone. It’s seriously not a big deal. Same with many other places. And there are MANY gay celebrities that people love and accept, like Ellen. Kurt Hummel on Glee is one of the most popular characters on the show. So homosexuality in the States can be a little strange and confusing, because there are two extremes (homophilia and homophobia) noticably present. It’d be very wrong and ignorant to say that Americans in general are homophobic.

Kliks
About that new group, I guess you really meant Double A (AA) not MyName…

Anonymous
No, I meant MyName. AA does some fan service, too, but nothing like MyName. Two of the members in MyName are vert affectionate with each other. Chaejin and Seyong, I think their names are. They kiss, hug, flirt, the works.

http://twitter.com/PheonixiaJJ Echo
lol Yunjae is real X____X
I am absolutely POSITIVE that Jaejoong LOVES his bandmates…….but I am also positive that he likes women XD
If you watch fancams then he is the one that gets turned on the most during concerts even now…..and the members have even teased him about it lol
And overall Jae likes hugging and touching people……
He has hugged both girls and guys on stage on numerous occasions.
And the only one he has ‘claimed’ to kiss in DB5SK is Changmin.
(And random…….but lol he looks HOT kissing girls……cause he knows how and gives it all (Note: Heaven’s Postman and PTB))
I think the method that Korean guys use to convince themselves they are not gay is to look at porn and date. Also, many of the ‘innocent’ idols have probably slept with more than one person during their careers.
Anonymous
I always felt that in yaoi, shonen-ai, yuri etc. people rarely describe themselves as gay, they usually just claim to fall for a person of the same gender, like gender doesn´t matter when it comes to love. I can agree with that but it also seems to me as a clever way not to describe obvious and play by the “social rules” at the same time.

Carl
What to say about transgenders like Harisu?
Anonymous
South Korea’s homophobia is not only due to Confucianism. To put the blame on merely Eastern values is ignorant and forgetting the other East Asian countries with much more liberal views.
Japan has plenty of gay and transexual figures on television, and one of
Taiwan’s most prominent TV host is an out-and-proud gay. China’s
twitter feed exploded a few months ago when (guess what) an evangelical
Chinese actress and her husband publicly denounced homosexuality – China’s biggest stars and the
young generation (post-80s) all condemned her behaviour.
There is still plenty of homophobia in East Asia but at least the
majority of the other countries’ ‘core demographic’ already accept
homosexuality (and isn’t too far from their Western counterparts), which
lays the foundation for future widespread accceptance.
Out of all the East Asian countries, South Korea has the largest Christian denomination (29.2%) – I’m sure everyone has seen the photos of SK idols/celebrities gathering together to pray. For the other
countries, Christianity makes up less than 5%.
In other words, South Korea is UNIQUE in that it encompasses the worst of BOTH East and West conservatism and fundamentalism.
(If anyone knows examples of popular support for homosexuality in South Korea, feel free to counter.)

tegami
Don’t pin the entire culture of homophobia on Christianity. That biased way of thinking is just as ignorant as the ultra conservatives’ you’re so clearly against.

Anonymous
Hrmmm… If you had read my first and last (/2nd last) sentence you would see that I’m clearly pinning the blame on BOTH (as I had capitalized above) cultures.
Jumping to conclusions much?
Thanks for generalizing my whole point.

JP
It is good to see a discussion about homosexuality in kpop in a mature way, because all the other sites it degenerates into my “oppa is not and my oppa is gay and in relationship with such and such…..”.
It is true that outwardly other Asian countries might seem more liberal in their views of homosexuality, but on the inside I get the feeling they are just as conservative (I really want to say narrow minded but I won’t because lot of times people don’t know any better). It like US seems to most outwardly liberal but besides few pockets in big cities and coastal states there is still lot of ignorance regarding this issue and I have read stories about people losing their jobs when they come out (surprising but true in this day and age). But I get the feeling that @lord:twitter is right about Christianity making things even worse because it we have things like anti-homosexuality bill in Uganda as a proof. Again, just to clarify myself I am not saying christianity alone is responsible for homophobia/no acknowledgement of homosexuality, but it is does act as a good fuel for an fire that had already been lit.
I don’t know much about religions in general and even less about confucianism, but one thing that can be said is that there are certain teachings that should be taken into consideration with time period those religions were founded and texts were written. We could debate about validity of religions if (as some people say) pick/choose vs. believing it completely, but we won’t because that
And I am not sure if increasing spread of “hallyu wave” will change the situation, but lets hope that it will, because supporting kpop in current situation makes me feel hypocritical as I usually hate supporting anything that reeks of homophobia and kpop currently does.
ggoma
Well, anyway…. you are right but there are some people who stand up for Hong Seok and such just as much as people criticized him. I think if you look at Korean now vs 10 years ago, it’s much more open. It will continue the same. If you think about it Korea in terms of homosexuality is much like the 40/50s in America. They just need more time and it will be open as it is in America now.
I think most Koreans don’t care if someone is gay or not – they care about if they express it.
More than Christianity though – there is a culture of wanting to blend in. Anything that sticks out is crushed. Homosexuality or not. As long as you live the same on the surface, no one will bother you much.

http://twitter.com/PhanTheHotness Jenny
total discrimination
i’m a christian, but i don’t see any reason to hate gay people
becky
For some reason I’m actually suprised by this, when I shouldn’t be, given Korea’s attitude to issues like race, some Asian countries like Thailand and Japan seem to be generally open to gays (I’m only talking from what I read in news & blogs) but not much is said about Korea and its attitude to gays, a couple of Korean dramas about gays have been released off late and like the writer said most of the boybands dress like gays anyway. so I’m a little suprised. The one line that caught my eye was “”See, this is why K-pop and Korea are superior to America! Because boys can look and act like this and not be accused of being gay!” yeah you’re right its nothing to celebrate, but lets cancel out tight trousers because its also worn by goths and rockstars so its not a gay only fashion accessory, but in the states you do have musicians who will wear eyeliner, eg heavy metal rockers, dressed in all black, jewellery, you have the hip hop stars, etc etc. I think with Kpop bands its a combination of everything not only do the companies bring out younger bands they make them.. for lack of a better word .. feminine looking , they’re not big or muscular, they’re small, when they’re taking pictures its the innocent look not aggressive (which is meant for women) I guess Korea is different, but its nothing to do with how they look, which would get them accused of being gay, its the combination of everything. But homophobia shouldn’t exist in any music genre but it does, theres a reason why hip hop stars like to act all tough some are not huge fans of homosexuality, just listen to their lyrics. Now its hypocritical, to say we can dress like this and kiss guys and think no one is gonna call us gay, FYI but we’re not homophobes, .. the lyrics make your position loud and clear to your listeners.
http://twitter.com/WishZhu Jie2
Using idols as the measure of social acceptance is unfair because it’s not really the same problem. Mainly, fans are fans not because their oppas did something for society by coming out, they are fans because oppas are good looking and theoretically available. Idols who come out as gay will likely lose a large part of their fanbase, even in the most accepting society. I’ll bet there exist the hollywood actors who maintain the straight image just so they will be considered for more roles. This is somewhat related to but definitely not the same as the kind of hate crime you get from just being gay as a non-celebrity.
I think the society in general is adapting well enough the idea of homosexuality – they just got off to a late start. There have been gay themed movies as well as a recent drama that showcased a gay couple (there was some social backlash, but you get that in the States as well and would be difficult to eradicate entirely). I believe some celebrities have also shown that they are not against homosexuality, which is a good start. The main issue is how to get young male idols still insecure in their own sexuality to start talking about it in a more sensitive way (and maybe this applies to those middle aged variety show hosts too). Not using phrases such as “no homo” and “I’m a real man”, which is just a severe lack of understanding and exposure, and perpetuating the idea in young impressionable fans that being gay is somehow negative.
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Nabeela
phenomenal Megan! It’s so interesting how you bring up that intimacy between group members can easily be brushed off as fanservice. More likely than not, I’m sure it is fanservice, but Heechul takes his fanservice to the next level of uncomfortable. I mean, c’mon now. Not to point Heechul out as gay or anything, b/c he certainly may not be, but its a good case and point about how what could potentially be homosexual affection is so quickly blanketed as fanservice.
In my opinion? Heechul is totally homo…

ggoma
I really doubt Heechul would be flaunting his gayness if he really was gay. Especially at a company like SM.
It’s funny how people assume that people who do fanservice are gay. When you assume that – you assume gay stereotypes are true and you buy into the marketing concept without a second thought.

http://colourmesplendid.wordpress.com Ree
At the same time though, maybe Heechul knows that he can flaunt it all he wants and everyone will just pass it off for show and a marketing concept?

http://colourmesplendid.wordpress.com Ree
I find Heechul an enigma. I’m hesitant to label him, let alone anyone, as anything. I don’t think anyone in SJ is gay — I’m not dismissing the probability — but from what I’ve seen, they all seem to enjoy the company of women.
Also, most of them are Christians (like most K-Pop idols), and I know homosexuality is considered a sin in the Bible, and I’m sure their parents drilled it into their heads ‘gay = bad’ from when they were young. So even if they did turn out gay, I have a feeling they might be repressing it, not for fear of society, but because they THEMSELVES believe it is wrong.
Though there are six people in the K-Pop sphere that do make me think about whether everything is as black or white as they seem (Heechul is one of them).
Key, Kevin and Jo Kwon, although their sexuality is their business, they also put themselves out there for us, and I can’t help but hypothesise. When K-Pop stars are overly flamboyant I’m torn, either:
1) It’s just for show, just to be funny. Because they can not know how homo what they’re doing is coming off. That’s over exaggerated flamboyancy. If they were gay, they wouldn’t make it obvious.
2) But then again, is this really them? Maybe they are just being themselves. Do they know that everyone is going to see it as show anyway, so why not act as flamboyant/divaish as you want? I mean, Kevin’s acts come so… naturally to him.
I think this applies to more Jo Kwon and Kevin than Key. But Key does straddle the line at times.
(Disclaimer: I of course, do not think all gay men are super flamboyant. But you can’t deny, that there are definitely flamboyant gays.)
In Heechul’s case… I find him really interesting. He’s had girlfriends before, but he’s also so okay with doing stuff like kissing on stage. And I know he’s pretty, but his ‘flamboyancy’, doesn’t come off as flamboyant to me. The image he gives the media isn’t as one dimensional as Kwon or Key. I really can not pinpoint his personality. He acts all showy and kisses his bandmates, but if you see him on other shows he’s just Heechul. He’s an interesting character, and I find it hard to wrap my brain around him. Most idols put up a one sided image in order to kind of hide behind a persona and keep them true selves an enigma. Heechul just seems to do what he wants and in the end it makes him come off as more of an enigma. I can’t say I like him exactly, but he’s interesting. He isn’t flamboyant enough for me to only think of those two options above. But at the same time, he gives me enough reasons to ponder.
If I had to come to a conclusion then… I think Heechul likes whoever he wants to like, whether he realises it or not.

Sali
I was so surprised you put up SHINee. LOL.

Shawol52911
me 2 wat was the point of that picture anyway

Guest
i think there’s two thngs at work here that many non-asian people don’t take into consideration.
1. skinship between males (by which i mean holding hands, slinging their arms around each other, but not kissing) is not specific to idols. it’s common among men in south korea, just like it is in most parts of asia. yes, there’s an age past which it will be looked upon as odd but for most young korean men, it’s not an issue and it’s not an indication of homosexuality. the same is true for young women.
2. many male idol groups cultivate their fanbase based on fanservice and yaoi ideals. it’s the best way of ensuring the fans that their oppars will always be true to them. they don’t cheat on them with women, but what’s wrong with kissing a bandmate. after all, the fan is most likely a fan of the bandmate as well. heechul may or may not be gay but he knows exactly what he’s doing when he goes about kissing his bandmates on stage. and most male fans of girl groups have absolutely no problem with the idea of them kissing.
for every fan that says “it’s just fanservice”, there’s one that says “omg, that’s so gay!”. neither attitude is fair to the idol. sexuality is a private issue and unless that person wants to talk about his/her sexuality, there’s no reason for us to gossip about it. there are definitely gay idols but not all of them are cut out to be spokepersons like hong seok chun and not all of them can take the risk he did. being an idol is the shortest of the careers in korean entertainment and the one with the least freedom. often, these are not choices the idol can make, but we don’t need to force our ideas of “gayness” on to them either.
Anonymous
Idols are not for sure representation of Korean society but it´s an interesting part of it because of the “fanservis”. It´s something I have never really got. I mean I know what it is and what it is for but I never understood why they need to imply sexual connotation. It sure is a way to stand out but just totally weird one in my opinion (I remember all that crazy fangirls of Jaejoong and Yunho …). I don´t like it for the same reasons mentioned in the article. My gay friend actually was offended when he saw some random idol variety (Super Junior I guess). He said something like “they would just freak out if I do that and then burn me at a stake”. It was harsh but he felt that way. He felt it was just for a show, he felt it made fun of his own identity of being gay. I cannot blame him. He struggled a lot before coming out.
My country is quite open to gay people, they can marry (however gay married men cannot adopt a child yet) and there are openly gay people in politics as well as in showbiz, but of course not everyone respects them, especially in the countryside, anyway they´re part of our society and everybody is aware of that. I think that´s a reason why we don´t have this kind of fanservis at all. To act like this, it would be an indication of being gay. It´s not about men and their inability to show affection towards each other or so, it´s that two guys holding hands or two girls kissing are usually gay people who are part of our society. It´s nothing special, nobody goes crazy because they can see “real” people doing it. If you behave this way and claim “no homo” at the same time, it´s just fake pose and those real gay people can see it as an insult /like my friend and his boyfriend did). I´m European and I´m totally aware that different cultures have different social norms and I respect that (like my Asian friends are more physically comfortable with each other than my European friends), I´m just sharing with my point of view.
I know it´s quite a different thing but the article reminded me of those fake dating couples TV shows I dislike so much. I dislike that because despite the fact it´s probably entertaining for many people I cannot help but wonder how those same idols would be treated if they were for real. I know there are few couples among idols but they don´t change my mind about fandom´s hypocrisy. Just imagine for example above mentioned Jaejoong if he shows up with “This is my girlfriend, I have met her in a subway, she´s a waitress and we live together” … she would probably have to move to different continent …
PS: sorry for my grammar
kc
IDK, I agree that Korea’s a bit slow in the thought process that Gay doesn’t equal bad, but I just wanna point out that western society is just as backwards, if not worse.
we think that “oh, let’s celebrate being gay by marching around in big puffy boas and green leotards” but really, doesn’t that just stereotype gay people as being abnormal- almost that they should be mocked. I’m saying this as someone who’s uncle, an uncle I’m very close to, faces this stereotype every day. You’re just not gay enough unless you march around in spandex and shout out gay rights.
my thoughts are that the people fight so obsessively against gay rights are (no just idiotic) could be over whelmed with what the media portrays as what a gay person is. what you see on TV, the sassy best friend or even the diva, that’s just the tip of the ice burg, how you act doesn’t classify what sexuality you are. my uncle, a big burly man who pulls of “straight” to a T, is Gay, He’s been with his boyfriend (soon husband if they decide to tie the knot) for over twenty years and no one believes him when he says he’s gay.
cause really, all gay men just have to be womanly and saucy while all lesbians have to be butch -.-
wanna blame something, blame stereotypes, maybe if people against it learned that being gay wasn’t a huge circus maybe there would be less hate… but then again, I’m probably wrong there, a person will always find a way to hate someone else -.-
Korea’s still… in a culture shock I guess you could say- for most of it’s existence it’s stayed mostly in it’s own little circle away from western culture. they cling to what they’ve always believed and then one day they find out that the rest of the world believes something else.
think of America back in the day, back in the days before civil rights- think about how many gay celebrities there were. can you name ten? five? one? it’s a hard thing to think about, that back then it was so widely different but it was- America looks nothing like it did back then because we’re slowly learning to except that every person in our country is different from each other- and the thing is, WE’RE STILL LEARNING!
now look at korea, you can almost compare them to the America of the thirties, back before Gay people could be popular, back before black people could be popular, back before we understood that there was more then just straight white people who were good.
I’m in no way saying it’s ok for people to react this way, discrimination of most things should be looked down upon, it’s just that they need to learn, they need to be educated that the worlds a big place full of colors, that sometimes stereotypes aren’t always right, that people in all shapes and sizes don’t fit in the same pretty package- this is our world, a colorful mess full of shapes, full of people who will never be perfect… and while the bad parts always seem to be outlined, I can’t help loving our world full of colors and shapes, I love it even when it’s full of such hate in hopes that some day that love might infect others to love each other as well… here’s hoping…
I’ll end this little rant here, since I’ve kinda just wrote a whole essay, but just saying, instead of fighting hate with hate, maybe we should try fighting with love… I mean it’s one thing is someone’s killing someone else, it’s another thing entirely to hate someone just because they love someone.
wan
Great article! I think this brings up a really important topic that most kpop fans don’t think about.
It’s really a little hypocritical – fans go crazy for the fanservice and yaoi and yuri stories, but as soon as there’s even a hint of a star actually being gay, they go crazy with tears and vehement denial.
I’m asian, and I can say that it’s definitely true that homosexuality is something that’s swept underneath the carpet. If you’re a homosexual asian, most people will assume you have some sort of mental disorder, that there’s something wrong with you. It’s a taboo topic, one that’s whispered about like some great betrayal or tragedy. My mom has whispered the word “gay” the three times I’ve heard her say it.
I agree that it has roots in Confucianism and the general culture, but I also think that it’s due to the great pressure in Asia to conform. Yes, there are many subcultures and deviants, but I think that the competition to succeed brings out a lot of conformity. School life consists of hundreds of tests to see who’s the best. Kids are brought up trying to please their families, and this means being the model child- who, of course, is not homosexual. Obedience to family is key, and there’s a big push to have a family. I have an uncle who’s a single and in his late 30′s, and he no longer goes to family dinners since everyone tries to badger him into marrying.
However, I also think it’s important to point out that there are many who are accepting of gays, but it’s not something they’re going to talk about. In some countries, homosexuality is a controversial topic which is discussed – in Asia, often there is no discussion.
Anonymous
I think the stigma around homosexuality in women is even stronger than among men in Korea (this is just based off what I have read in blogs and articles.) There was that drama which attempted to have characters who were lesbians and they got cancelled due to public outcry. There are plenty of K-dramas with gay characters, or characters who at least briefly thought they were gay. This isn’t directly related to Kpop but you see it there too: the fan service is far less outrageous, the people involved (e.g. Taeny) still act “feminine” instead of being all “butch”. A person who is a little more tomboyish and who doesn’t fit their cute/sexy/feminine concepts is immediately labelled as a ‘male’ or a ‘lesbian.’
Anonymous
Remember that boy group Battle that debuted back in 2006? The members were boys who won a TV tournament. It also involved Shinhwa somehow, but I don’t remember. Anyway, they’re inactive now, but the maknae, Chris, has been studying in the U.S. for a while now. He is openly gay and has a boyfriend. He has a Facebook page, but he’s pretty private about it.
It just makes you think about all the young idols who are active now and struggling with their sexualities. And I’m sure there are many. Kinda sad, really. : But I’m happy for Chris!
joonni
Hong Seok Chun was on the talk show “Strong Heart” a couple of times and anytime he made a joke that suggest homosexuality, he was given a warning that the joke was too early for times, maybe it might be appropriate in 2020. In this you have the acknowledgement of homosexuality, acknowledgement of Korea’s inability to deal with it currently, and the resistance to let the discourse of open homosexuality play out in the entertainment industry. The show made the resistance funny while acknowledging that maybe Korea will be ready in the future.
Anonymous
Sometimes I wonder about my own preconceived notion of what gay is. Could it be the conditioning I’ve received in the U.S.? It definitely offends me when people go around calling others gay as an insult. What is wrong with being gay? At the same time, the amount of denial I see in K-pop is baffling. (Really? Jokwon was on a show called We Got Married to a girl who looked like a guy? He is totally not gay?) But, all it takes is time. Evolution takes time. I have (some) faith that things will improve for the better so maybe Sungjong of INFINITE won’t have to pretend that he’s actually into SNSD.

Anonymous
I would hardly say that Ga-In looks like a guy…-__-
But I completely agree with all your other points, especially the one about Sungjong. The boy’s flaming and I don’t understand how all of his rabid fans continue to deny it.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Anngelica-Aguilar/100000185514336 Anngelica Aguilar
Yeah, I disagree with the Ga In comment too, she’s actually pretty hot. but I do agree about Sungjong though
Kamikapse
Yeah, It’s kinda tiring when fans and anti-fans both release their homophobia.
The antis by saying: “He’s so ridiculous, he must be gay” and the fans by saying “He’s so dreamy / nice / attractive, he can’t be gay”
Regarding Sungjong, tbh I don’t doubt he’s into SNSD as in liking their music and their choreographies.
But on a physical level, yeah probably not.

Anonymous
Yeah, I wish more people were willing to admit they are gay/lesbian in Korean showbiz but seeing as the country’s old generation are still closed-minded, only starting to openly accept foreigners is the beginning, it is predicted that the younger generations will take a while to follow — to readily counter back against their elders’ beliefs because being respectful to the elders is a big social standard.
I’m honestly surprised heteronormativity happens. Seeing so many idols give “fanservice” parents and guardians don’t seem that concerned with their children being “promoted homosexuality” when that student rights clause did.
I always considered the closeness of the members as having a sisterhood/brotherhood –you’ve been through ups and downs together– and as fanservice; but then there are times, now and then, I wonder if someone is really attracted to the same sex, when that line is crossed over (umm, Heechul? Even Henry was surprised..)
frou-frou
Great article, Megan – I’ve been waiting for someone to bring this up. It’s heartbreaking for anyone anywhere to have to keep such a huge part of themselves secret. And it would also devastate me if the idols I love turned out to be homophobic. I was worried that Siwon might be gay-unfriendly (since he’s uber-religious) but I was sooo relieved when I saw that picture of him and Tony Hong together.

Jae
Siwon has said before that he lives his life pretending homosexuality does NOT exist.
Of course, he’s probably changed his views since then because he’s been kissing the other members of SJ left and right for his fan service.It’s possible though, that he can pose with Tony Hong for a photo if he doesn’t see him as gay, but as a straight person if he still believes that homosexuality doesn’t exist therefore for him nobody can be gay.

frou-frou
Jeez did he really say that? I think I just died a little.
I’m gonna give Siwon the benefit of the doubt and assume that he’s realised the error of his ways and now knows that there’s nothing wrong with being gay. Because if he’s really going around posing for photos and pretending homosexuality doesn’t exist, he would be a contender for dumbest person on the planet. And I really hope he’s not.

Gilcreas
well here is the catch he can talk all that God stuff he wants to but his actions say otherwise and i truly believe he is in the closet but knows that to reveal it would destroy his career so he teases without really dropping hints. Nevertheless people who are in tune can recognize.

Hk198215
It doesn’t matter if they are “gay” or not. They are popular because they are good looking, dance & sing well. Perform and give their all the their fans. That is all that fans should ask of them. What they do, who they like/love behind closed doors is no ones business but their own. Don’t you think??!!

Gilcrease
no not all can sing and dance. Also it does matter especially with somebody named Choi Siwon who was quick to bash homosexuality but doesn’t mind participating in some of the actions like kissing and hugging his bandmates. either you are or you aren’t.

Anonymous
Great article, Megan! You bring up very good points.
I think South Korea, and many other Asian countries, are a very long way from being totally accepting of the LGBT community. They’re deeply rooted in Confucianism culture, many people in Korea, specifically, are Christian, and there’s this hesistancy to even admit that homosexuality is a real thing in a lot of Asian cultures.
I’m Filipino-American and, personally, my family is very TOLERANT of the LGBT community. They know they exist and I have relatives that are openly gay… but tolerance and acceptance are very different things. South Korea has a long way to go, from almost denial of existence, to realization, to tolerance and eventually acceptance. And, honestly, I don’t think the US has even crossed the threshold into acceptance – institutionalized prejudice is still prevalent in many states.
As for the ‘fan-service’ aspect of it all among idol members, I agree that the whole male-to-male skinship isn’t just limited to idols and is actually a very common thing in South Korea. Or so I’ve heard. It’s just easier to accept that it’s all fanservice when your friends act the same way. What I find interesting, however, is how accepting international fanbases are or this ‘fan-service’. When and why do these fans’ mindsets change about what is perceived as gay and not? And how does this affect their perceptions of homosexuality in their own countries and cultures? That would be a really interesting thing to explore.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Anngelica-Aguilar/100000185514336 Anngelica Aguilar
How are you sure that “fanservice” is accepted among international fans?
Here in America, people wouldn’t even hesitate to call these people gay -___-
I personally hate it. And it’s not because I’m homophobic or anything, I just really dislike it. It creeps the hell out of me and I’ve noticed that I’m not the only one. I have many friends who listen to kpop and watch performances who really dislike this “fanservice”. It’s awkward when you’re watching your favorite bias perform and you’re like “OMG! so-and-so is so sexy!” and then he plants a big one on another member. You go from :D to -____-.I don’t know but even as an international fan I really hate fanservice. I especially hate when idiot fans pair up idols. all this talk about Jonghyun and key; Taeyon and Tiffany; Yoona and Yuri; It’s so stupid and every time I see some dumbass shipping these pairings I always think “and when these idol bust out with ‘I’m gay’ and turn out to be seriously dating, everybody’s bitching”
Maybe fans from other countries but I don’t think most American fans enjoy this “fanservice”

Anonymous
You can’t really peg a whole group of fans just because of the way YOU think. And to be honest… you seem to be a little homophobic. “I’m not homophobic or anything, but it creeps me the hell out when two people of the same sex touch eachother!” Um.. okay.
And seeing as how I pretty much only interact with international fandoms, fan-service seems to be a lot more accepted than you like to believe. Even among American fans. I’m not saying ALL American fans/international fans like fanservice, I’m saying it’s widely accepted. Or tolerated, depending on the way you look at it.
And like you said, a lot of fans actively ship same-sex idols together whether it be girl-girl like the ships in SNSD or boy-boy like the ships in Big Bang. And some people don’t necesarilly want them to be together in a romantic way and just like the strong friendship bonds between the two. What I found really interesting is the acceptance and appreciation a lot of fans have when two of their favorite idols kiss of hold hands – like the recent kiss between TOP and Taeyang during their EMA backstage interview. A lot of fangirls/boys loved it, but is that because they are more accepting of the gay community or, like Megan said, they sort of push off the idea that their idols could be gay and it’s all just fun? When, maybe, in their own cultures and community, a guy kissing another guy on the cheek would herald calls of, ‘GAY!’ It’s interesting that kpop has sort of blurred the line, but is that a good thing or a bad thing? There’s just a lot to discuss when it comes to this topic, haha.
Paula
I’m a international (portuguese) fan, specially of TVXQ-2, JYJ, TVXQ-5 and always found funny and cute the fanservice. Specially YunJae. But I don’t think I could explain what’s that exactly or why it’s called like that. And probably the same happens to many of us. We read the word, see the images but only understand as something they do to please the fans. Like saying jokes, smiling and answering questions. So in my case it isn’t that I accept or not the fanservice. Just see the videos and in the comments see the word or not.
mira
I disagree about your thoughts regarding American fans hating fanservice. I’m American and I think there is more people who tolerate or ever enjoy when idols do fanservice than people who hate it.
However, like you, I have no basis for this thought other than everyone I know who enjoys KPop also enjoys or at least puts up with it. I’m also a part of several international forum where I’ve made American friends who enjoy fanservice performances

http://weeatlemon.blogspot.com conanblue
As far as I know, men in Korea are a little more touchy-feely than others. For them, hugging or holding hands is normal. I think this is the problem, when someone from the outside culture (including myself) starts to associate this act to become something else. I’m pretty sure there are some idols who are homosexual. But automatically judging every idol who hugs their members or dresses pretty as homosexual is disrespecting their culture.
On the contrary, I do think this practice only gives another reason to deny homosexuality, whether from an individual or a community aspect. All you have to do is do the same thing you would do. This doesn’t mean that person needs to come out, but because the culture allows someone to do homosexual activities without actually telling, why not? Plus the fact that almost all idols are forbidden to date, on paper or not, just makes this situation more applicable. I mean, living in a small space 24 hours a day with 4-10 other beautiful people of the same sex and forbidden to date the opposite must do something weird to your brain.
As for Korea’s tolerance to LGBT, it’s still much less than a Western country. But from my personal standpoint, tolerance and acceptance of LGBT is as personal matter. You can’t be forced to tolerate or be against LGBT, although the community is big at play. I think Korea is starting to open up to ideas of homosexuality,even at a snail pace. For example, King and the Clown is ranked top 5 box office in Korea. The movie is very subtle of its message, but that itself is pretty big. Although I have to say, even for homosexuality, there’s a double standard. There’s quite a number of movies depicting gay people compared to the so very few that talks about lesbian people.
Maki
ah good article here. at first when i ventured to listening to kpop i find it really disturbing that fans cheer on their idols most especially when their oppars are passionately kissing each other and call it fanservice.. i will never find it entertaining never.. South korea’s too conservative and really has a long way to go when it comes to accepting LGBT. but ironically guys of kpop are a bit effiminate even to the way they interact with their members which makes me really confuse.. I think being gay in korea is like open secret.. people are aware about it but never discuss it openly. like being blind metaphorically
seri-park
Attitudes toward homosexuality in Korea varied over historical time. The most conservative time in Korean history was the last Dynasty, the Chosun Dynasty (1392-1910), which became increasingly oppressive by imposing Confucianist orthodoxy.
However, the previous dynasties were more liberal, especially with respect to sexuality and women’s rights. King Gongmin, one of the most artistic, intelligent and capable of the Goryeo Dynasty, was openly gay and had several male lovers. King Mokjong of Goryeo was also gay. During the Goryeo Dynasty male homosexual practices were described as yongyang-chi-chong, the dragon and the sun, implying the
coming together of the two male symbols. It was also thought that homosexual practices were more accepted during the earlier Silla Dynasty (BC 57- AD 935).
Anonymous
Just curious… anyone wants to share their view on Harisu?

MimiGrape
I like Harisu. I think her image is a little Britney-Spears-ish, but off-camera she seems like a person who has guts. I mean, she’d still be a guy if she didn’t have guts. And her and her husband are seriously one of the cutest couples ever.

Hmm
I think heechul, Jo kwon, and key are gays.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Anngelica-Aguilar/100000185514336 Anngelica Aguilar
OH my goodness I agree completely about Key. I think Heechul likes guys and girls. and Jo Kwon just confuses me…
ggoma
I heard to much stuff about Key to believe he isn’t gay. Jo Kwon and Heechul are just having fun, IMO. They like to shock people.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Anngelica-Aguilar/100000185514336 Anngelica Aguilar
What have you heard about key? (just curious)

Aya
i dont know about heechul..it think he just like to have some fun and playing around….but key and jo kwon, i do think that they are (sorry fans..i really think that way, lalalala)

Julyssa
I wrote a very potted post about it for YAM. Which pretty much touches the same issues as this article http://www.yam-mag.com/features/the-hypocrisy-of-korean-entertainment/
Capri08
You know, I myself had a hard time believing that out of all the k-pop boy groups, there is not one gay. Especially the way some of them act. What shocks me more is the way the fan girls act towards the mention of their favorite idol being gay.
Meanwhile I don’t know how many times I’ve came across a gay fan-made video on YouTube by their boy groups liking one another. Mmmm…..I guess it’s okay to fantasize about it as long as it not real?
Or when all their television programs make them dress up as girls, or play that kissing game….and the sad part about it is that even though they’re homophobic, they’re more accepting of gays than they are of lesbians. There are so many more movies and television shows about man on man, even just a little peck, than their are about lesbians. Lesbians are really looked down upon, just because they don’t want an Asian man.
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Snowchick_01
It’s not ideal considering that in this particular situation the gay is not ‘wished’ away but just don’t exist. However there is a small positive aspect: the fact that guys can hug and show emotion to each other without being labelled gay at the first instance. Which I beleive is a problem in our Western society whoch even though it is more accepting of homosexuals its still not fair labelling people gay when they aren’t.

Kamikapse
But the fact that people are oh so quick to label it “gay”, shows that western societies aren’t quite as accepting of it.

Paula
You’re right. I live in one of those more open countries, for instance, gay marriage is legalized where, but the sensation is that a good gay is an invisible one. We, in Portugal, just prefer to ignore them and they don’t show themselves in the streets, for instance. And I don’t mean in a loud way. I mean by, for instance, holding hands, looking at each other, shopping together. Every country as is one homophobia. Some less than others.

nuburu
Can we stop every time there’s a problem with a Kpop or actor’s it’s Western Society So korean’s Can’t think for them self, they can’t function with out looking a Western Society And fact only time there’s a really big thing about gays in America its election time If a star come’s no big deal. Korean’s I know in America can think for themselves. And really don’t care who gay or not and don’t.

Esther Tai
See Amber from f(x) and the comments about her on YouTube.
‘Nuff said.

Paula
You´re right. I just like to add, on the boys comments side, the one’s done to the YunJae couple.

nuburu
I don’t care who gay or not. Why do you care? If you like the person for their entertainment. why does it matters OMG people no country is superior then other discrimination is discrimination.
Katyen
Okay, now: STOP!
Hell yeah, Korea is not as open-minded as all the Western countries, and yes, many parents are overreacting about the spreading homosexuality – but this is korean NATURE based on tradition, reliegion and society.
BUT IT IS NOT AS BAD AS YOU MAY ASSUME!
I live in Korea, I’m attending a regular public High School, and you know what?
I HAVE GAY FRIENDS.
I have three male gay friends (two of them are a couple – really cute) and two female gay friends. All of them are OPENLY gay. Of course there are other students and especially parents who mock them or try to “ungay” them, but they are proud.
With one of my male gay friends, I even went to a GAY CLUB in Seoul. There are many gay communities all over Korea, constantly spreading.
It’s sure going to take 10 years or so for South Korea to be as open-minded as Western countries are, but just one thing that proves that the WHOLE COUNTRY is on the right way: Right now – I’m not sure if they came to a solution yet – they are discussing about whether soldiers are allowed to be openly gay when in military services.
And hey, that’s more open-minded than Bush was.
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Blossemcup4
I think there are quite a few idols who are gay and would love it if they felt comfortable enough to come out, but I think it will be a while before that possibly happens. But whether they are gay or not shouldn’t matter if you like them for their music. I would completely accept if one of my favorite idols said they were gay, but I would probably be a little disappointed that I no longer have a hypothetical shot with them. I have seen a lot of questionable behaviors and activities between group members on many tv shows, but I don’t label it as gay because I know men express their friendship differently over there.
John Doe
Of course there’s nothing wrong with being gay, or having homosexual desires. However, the practice of homosexuality is just wrong, no matter how you look at it. There’s a reason why reproduction can only occur between a male and a female. It seems that in society’s race to be more “tolerant”, rather than “loving”, we also began to quickly deteriorate in differentiating right from wrong.
I know I’m going to get flamed and cyber-bashed immensely because of this, but nevertheless, it is what it is.

Anonymous
Exactly, it is as it is.
Just as its completely natural for other species to actually feature intercourse with the same gender.
Just as every specie (except ours) is not homophobic.
If you want to start talking about normal, then us being the only specie who thinks something’s wrong with that is abnormal.
With over 7 billion people in the world right now and at least a quarter of them starving to death and living in poverty, of course, everyone has to be straight! Everyone should be straight! And everyone should reproduce the way nature “intended” us to! But have you ever thiught that maybe, just maybe, homosexuality is nature’s way of controling mankind’s excessing reproduction through evolution? I would suggest you ecome objective and start thinking things through whilst evaluating them thoroughly and maybe you will be closer to know wat “it is as it is” means.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Paula-Benvinda/1166261321 Paula Benvinda
How old are you? 220? Joking aside.
Respect your way of thinking but disagree 100%.
And you began so well: “Of course there’s nothing wrong with being gay”.
But then you just forgot about the evolution of Science that allows a woman to get pregnant without contact of a man.
Anyway, you contradict your self: “there’s nothing wrong with being gay” but “the practice of homosexuality is just wrong”.
It’s right being gay if they only keep it in their thoughts? Or even thoughts are wrong and forbidden?
Kisses

Rose
Sometimes I think funny, and other times I got bored as hell. But I’m an adult listening and watching some Kpop and my mind doesn’t go on with all the fangirling crazyness about skinship or whatever they call . I think that the Korean music wave is very cool, but I see a response of the western in the future. And I think when these wave of boybands and girlbands back to the ocident, the Koren wave will be forgotten. Because honestly, It’s to complex this homoerotic assexual way of entertainment.
http://twitter.com/sunnynsides Kelly Gao
I personally think that it’s just all fanservice for the kpop stars…every group I know does that. Would that mean that every one of those kpop groups would be homosexual?

Anonymous
You’ve obviously completely missed the point of the article, it’s not accusing your oppas of being gay, it’s pointing out that there is a possibility that some of them might be, but even if they were no-one would recognise it because Korea is in denial about the very existance of homosexuality. Like statistically it’s extremely likely that a few of them are gay, but sadly they will never be able to come out fo the closet because Korean people are so homophobic. If you believe that no one out of all the kpop groups in the industry is gay then you are both very naive and what’s more, contributing to the masses of people who refuse to acknowlege homosexuality as a completley normal thing, and therefore make life extremley difficult for gay people EVERYDAY.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Bradley-Coffman/1032244755 Bradley Coffman
I agree completely. I think you can confirm this article by observing all of the comments about “why does it matter?” It matters because if they were out they would be hated. It matters because their careers would be devastated.
It matter because keeping it in is the worst torment and hell you could ever experience. If you are not part of the LGBT spectrum you have no idea what sort of internal strife exists in being in the closet. You don’t want to lie about yourself but you are scared of losing everything if you tell the truth.
I adore some of my kpop artists and I hope one day that if they are even a little bit queer they can come out.
It breaks my heart. Because i know their pain. That is also why I don’t blend in. People are always asking why I have to be so gay. BECAUSE YOU ASSUME I’M STRAIGHT OTHERWISE.
I will not blend. I will not hide myself. Yes, i get beaten, harassed, and a slew of other things but I will make sure that people know I existed.
Anonymous
I find that the simple anti-homophobia argument would be to ask: “What do homosexuals do to you that heterosexuals don’t?”
However i also honestly believe that the only way to understand something is to be at least in contact with homosexuality and to be open about it: a gay friend of mine (in korea) came out to a friend of his and she was happy for him because he told her
Anonymous
Maybe it’s because I only can read the English comments to the various youtube and blog comments about Taeny but all I see are positive feelings. Sure there are about 25% that say they are just friends and that they hope they aren’t lesbians. However the other 75% are all about how they wish that Taeny is real and that they are really lovers and will get married. The English comments are anything but homophobic but as I said I am probably getting a very skewed sample. Having said that, this is a very interesting thread.
http://twitter.com/lillian23910 Sharon
Actually 90% of fangirls think Heechul is gay, including me. If he came out, I would be like, I knew it! Finally! Know who is ur lover? Was it Hangeng? is it anyone is suju? We can’t know for sure so we just say everyone is straight unless theu come out, even though we have our doubts, but its only for international fans. Dont know about Korean fans.
http://twitter.com/lillian23910 Sharon
Actually 90% of fangirls think Heechul is gay, including me. If he came out, I would be like, I knew it! Finally! Know who is ur lover? Was it Hangeng? is it anyone is suju? We can’t know for sure so we just say everyone is straight unless theu come out, even though we have our doubts, but its only for international fans. Dont know about Korean fans.
http://twitter.com/lillian23910 Sharon
Actually 90% of fangirls think Heechul is gay, including me. If he came out, I would be like, I knew it! Finally! Know who is ur lover? Was it Hangeng? is it anyone is suju? We can’t know for sure so we just say everyone is straight unless theu come out, even though we have our doubts, but its only for international fans. Dont know about Korean fans.
http://elwood5566.net/ No Kang-ho
I did read in an academic journal, the source of which I’ve lost, that homosexuality, and in particular, pederasty were at one time prevalent in the upper-echelons of Korean society, and even the court. The article gave various examples of art and poetry, some of which related to the Hwa-rang, to support its claim and also made links to similar ‘acceptance’ and institutionalization of homosexuality and pederasty in both the history of China and Japan. The article concluded that with the arrival of Christian missionaries, such practices were demonised and written out of the history books.
The topic of gender in Korea is complex. Though gays have more freedoms in the West, it sucks to be straight and incredible stress is put on men to be hyper-masculine. Part of the product of this gender pressure is a more violent and aggressive society. Yes, it is not easy being gay in Korea but the irony is that it is a lot easier and comfortable being male than it is back home.