Back to top

K-Pop star Som Hye came out as bBzxjS4DayF@uh((2FVP*9^SXT(Z^k%uEHVDN^InPJD^x5^MYQfisexual on social media this week.

“I’m bisexual. And I have [a] girlfriend now,” she wrote on Instagram after sharing photos of her holding hands and kissing her girlfriend.

In conservHaDg2cqUJ*k8iKgzcM36uuYbSPz-rMnF^NVICZpHfw8FAaG3u%ative South Korea, most LGBTI people are not out to their families. 

K-Pop singer Holland became the nation’s firS=iu=IFO^NLLw)OOBvwDUOD8Bk-(7XepS@58rEtLa4wMr$VfUpst well-known LGBTI star when he came out last year.

Som Hye rose to 3G!dLkykASU8UPO1Zwv@*LE9eE!A9dwWf0!DWykxp@MZ25CJU3fame as a contestant on the Korean girl group reality show Idol School in 2017. She released her debut single Mini Radio earlier this year.

She posnmtYY291sPvDGOyH_YGM-f@1G@AFc0+(8)L$pM!$E%Z4iQ*PIEted photos on Tuesday showing the couple kissing each other on the cheek and holding hands.

"It's heartbreaking"

When a fan asked the question “R u really lesbian? I am so shocked rlly”, Som Hye responded in an Instagram story: “I’m bisexual. And I have [a] girlfriend now.”

“My girlfriend 0WjvNdF=Wd!Y&mbB6B)$MSKmBe!csd!ZIiGCCG$wZR)boUnegwas short hair, just my girlfriend’s style” she also wrote. “PLZ respect her, it’s heartbreaking to ask my girlfriend if she’s a man or a woman”.

Som Hye later posted a longe4r8GY)gCoaJwN=11uMtG!VXPDMND7088U_nr15vn4%*rlCLaatr statement in Korean, apparently responding to comments on her social media.

M1$Bzu7wp^XA&PI9!WCFhCpyMdr9+z(algr7jF_je#mEw=7mC)She warned if ’speculative’ content continues should would take legal measures.

'I am in a loving [relationship] and since it’s not wrong, I confidently did come out [as bisexual], but I didn’t do it so that I could stand out. What kind of person lightly makes the decision to come out like that?’ She wrote, according to Scoompi.com.

She went on to say:

People think differently and can hate same-sex relationships. Yes, you can hate it. Those are individual values and I’m not trying to force [anyone] to understand or like homosexuality. I am also not begging for [anyone] to like or notice me. I didn’t think that I would receive this much attention. I just didn’t want to hide the fact that I am dating and in love just like everyone else.
I don’t want my people to get hurt, and it’s my duty to protect them. I will also take legal measures to protect my people. Please stop.


Rights groups have warned of deteriorating LGBT rights in South Korea. 

Recent increased visibility of the LGBT community has sparked a backlash from conservative Christians. Many LGBT pride events have witnessed violent counter-demonstrations from anti-L7IYA_jWLp5B$svt-r5rtHFEzHo@A_XsGVUAY-$^KKXvL941*h!GBT groups.

Author: Rik Glauert