Just B member Bae In, who declared he was the first idol to come out, spoke for the first time about his feelings after coming out.
On the 25th, a video titled 'An idol coming out?? What?' was released on the YouTube channel "Hong Seok-cheon's jewelry box."
During the group Just B's world tour "JST ODD" LA performance last year, member Bae In said on stage, "I am proud to belong to the LGBT community." 'LGBT' is an abbreviation used inside and outside the LGBTQ rights movement to denote sexual minorities, and Bae In's coming out is the first case of a male idol group member of Korean nationality coming out.
Bae In said about the background to meeting Hong Seok-cheon and coming out, "Honestly, there was no plan like 'I'll do it on this day.' I didn't plan at all. I made the decision on the rehearsal day and told the members and the company, 'I want to do this (come out),' and they told me to do it. From the start of the tour I had prepared a solo stage, and I prepared it with Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way,' giving fans a few signs."
Bae In said about his sexual identity, "Actually, from the time I started as a trainee I realized, 'Ah, I like men.' After realizing that, I was very anxious, wondering, 'Is it okay for me to be like this? Can I be a trainee?' I was really afraid because no one knew how my identity would be resolved later, so as a child I even imagined, 'Am I lying about this? Am I lying to the company?' and those kinds of thoughts scared me."
Amid vague worries and fears, Bae In even thought about contacting Hong Seok-cheon. He said, "Among the seniors who have come out and are active, there's really only Hong Seok-cheon. One day, with nowhere to ask for advice, and with my parents not knowing and none of my friends knowing at that time, I was the only one who knew, so I thought about how to contact him. But I was scared."
When Bae In finally met Hong Seok-cheon, he said, "No lie, I thought, 'Ah, I should live like that,' and decided to live confidently. Because I'm an idol and make music, I thought I should influence the public through music like the senior did, and I thought I should live with that cool mindset."
Reactions surrounding Bae In after his coming out were intense. Bae In said, "I feel like there's a new perspective on me. Before, within this, I thought that before coming out I had to write songs always about women, always 'her, her,' or else be vague and avoid mentioning gender. But now, at least for my personal songs, I can write lyrics comfortably, and that small thing has a big effect. So I feel more possibilities and like I can dream bigger, and that's the best thing."
Negative reactions were unavoidable. Bae In said, "I looked everything up and by my count 80% were cheering for me. But when I returned to Korea it was fierce. Opposition was eight to two. At that moment I thought, 'Did I do something wrong?' and I was scared; it was a reality check. Of course no one said, 'You came out, come here, you should be punished,' or anything like that, but people who didn't know me said harsh things, and I was a little scared thinking what they would say if they saw me in person."
Bae In expressed apologetic feelings toward his members. He said, "Honestly, if I had come out and been alone, I don't think I would have regretted it, but I belong to a group. These are members I cherish and think of like family, and because of me they have to hear and see unpleasant things and may face misunderstandings. The members aren't gay and only I am. If people mistakenly think, 'Oh, then they're all gay?' I'd go crazy. I see all that, but I don't think, 'This is all because of me.' If I thought that, I would collapse."
Finally, Bae In said, "Fans were probably surprised, but many said they pretty much knew, they noticed. I'm so grateful that they try to understand me as I am and try to love me."
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