Bain (singer)
Bain | |
|---|---|
 Bain in 2021 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Song Byeong-hee 2001 (age 24–25) |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Label | |
Song Byeong-hee (Korean: 송병희; born 2001), known professionally as Bain (배인), is a South Korean K-pop singer best known for being a member of idol group Just B, which he has been a part of since 2021. He made headlines when he came out as gay in 2025, becoming the first K-pop singer in an idol group to be openly gay.
Biography
[edit]Byeong-hee was born in 2001.[1] He realized he was gay at the age of 12, when he was in secondary school. He became a K-pop trainee shortly after finishing secondary school,[2] which he has stated resulted in him having no choice but to hide being gay.[3] He participated in Under Nineteen as a trainee, where he was eliminated in the final episode.[4] He made his debut as part of Just B in 2021.[5] He privately came out to his group and their label, Bluedot Entertainment, in 2023,[6] after being asked by them whether he was gay.[7]
He appeared in Build Up: Vocal Boy Group Survival in 2024.[8]
On 22 April 2025, Bain came out as gay during a performance of Just B in Los Angeles, saying: "I'm fucking proud to be a part of the LGBTQ community, as a gay person", singing a cover of Lady Gaga's "Born This Way",[6] and waving a rainbow flag.[9] During and after the concert, he received public support from his bandmates[10] and his record label, as well as other notable LGBTQ+ figures in South Korea.[11] He stated one of the reasons he had the courage to come out was Hong Seok-cheon.[12]
This coming out was seen by many, including pop culture critic Jung Duk-hyun and LGBTQ+ rights activist Yi Ho-rim, as a sign that South Korean culture was possibly becoming more accepting of LGBTQ+ people.[13] Byeong-hee has said that he was warned against coming out, but decided "society's changing" and that he "might gain more" than he would lose.[14] Fans both within and outside of South Korea stated that this coming out encouraged them to keep going and inspired them.[2] However, both he and his bandmates also received hate comments.[9]
He has remained an active member of Just B, and as of June 2026, is the first and only openly gay K-pop singer in an active K-pop group.[15][7]
References
[edit]- ↑ Lee, Hae-rin (24 April 2025). "JUST B's Bain comes out during world tour in LA - The Korea Times". The Korea Times. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- 1 2 Tan, Yvette; Moon, Juna (28 June 2025). "'Proud to be gay': K-pop star on coming out to the world". BBC. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- ↑ Lim, Jeong-won (29 June 2025). "Just B's Bain says he had more to gain than lose when deciding to come out as gay". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- ↑ Ha, Su-jeong (9 February 2019). ""4월 정식 데뷔"..'언더나인틴', 1위 센터 전도염x그룹명은 원더나인 [어저께TV]". Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- ↑ Benjamin, Jeff (24 April 2025). "Bain of K-Pop Boy Band JUST B Comes Out at L.A. Concert: 'F—ing Proud to Be Part of the LGBT Community'". Billboard. Retrieved 31 August 2026.
- 1 2 Fell, Nicole (17 June 2025). "K-pop Star Bain is Ready to Open a New Chapter Following Historic Coming Out: "I Can Finally Be Free"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- 1 2 Glasby, Taylor (28 April 2025). "JUST B's BAIN coming out changes K-pop history". Dazed. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- ↑ Pyo, Kyung-min (24 January 2024). "Mnet's boy band survival program to pick members for new vocal-centric group". The Korea Times. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- 1 2 Lee, Seung-ku (5 May 2025). "K-pop's Bain breaks taboos as 'first' openly gay idol: 'not an easy path'". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- ↑ Phillipp, Charlotte (25 April 2025). "K-Pop Singer Bain Comes Out During Concert: 'F------ Proud to Be Part of the LGBT Community'". People.com. Archived from the original on 8 February 2026. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- ↑ Benjamin, Jeff (1 July 2025). "JUSTB on the Importance of Supporting Bain's Coming Out and Being an Ally in the K-Pop Industry". Billboard. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- ↑ Yoon, So-yeon (28 April 2025). "Gay K-pop star Bain thanks actor Hong Seok-cheon for giving him the courage to come out". Korea Joongang Daily. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- ↑ "What Just B's Bain coming out as gay shows about Korea's progress on LGBTQ". South China Morning Post. 29 April 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- ↑ I, Isabella (1 July 2025). "K-Pop Star Bain is F**king Proud To Be a Part of the LGBTQ Community". Instinct. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- ↑ Hutt-Dixon, Tom (29 June 2026). "K-pop idol BAIN reflects on being first gay idol in active boy group". PinkNews. Retrieved 18 July 2026.