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# Gay Korean Celebrities  – K-pop singer first to come out as gay in 20 years
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/k-pop-singer-first-to-come-out-as-gay-in-20-years/
- Published: 2020-10-09T07:30:36.000Z
- Updated: 2021-04-23T11:32:14.000Z
- Description: South Korean singer Kwon Do Woon has come out as gay, making him the first male Korean celebrity to do so in 20 years.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: Arts, Music, News, Pride, LGBTQ, South Korea

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/kwondowoon2-1.jpg)

Kwon Do Woon

## **First Male Korean Celebrity to Come Out as Gay in 20 years**

South Korean singer **Kwon Do Woon** has come out as gay, making him the first male Korean celebrity to do so in 20 years. TV personality and chef **Hong Seok Cheon** was the first notable Korean celebrity to speak openly about his sexuality in 2000 and Woon is the first to follow in his footsteps. The LGBTQ+ community in the country have no protections from discrimination; after Cheon came out he was fired from his job as a TV host.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/hong-seok-cheon-1-1.jpg)

Hong Seok Cheon

## Courage to Come Out

Woon came out in the light of his 10th anniversary as a singer, and credited Cheon for giving him the ‘courage’ to speak candidly about his sexual orientation. He said in a [statement](https://www.allkpop.com/article/2020/10/trot-singer-kwon-do-woon-comes-out-as-gay-on-his-10th-debut-anniversary-the-first-male-celeb-to-come-out-in-20-years?ref=scenemag.co.uk): *“I wanted to speak up as a representative voice of sexual minorities and wanted to open up the prospect of coming out more widely in the entertainment industry. I hope to continue representing the LGBTQ+ community in my role.”*

## Support

Many Twitter users have shown their support for him, with one [saying](https://twitter.com/mingzol/status/1313310224904847361?ref=scenemag.co.uk) they were happy for him and hoped ‘others showed him love and support’. [One](https://twitter.com/arevm%5F/status/1313281866829496321?ref=scenemag.co.uk) pointed out *“it’s a big deal for celebrities to come out in South Korea”,* and adding they were ‘proud’ of Woon for doing so. [**CNN**](https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/25/asia/k-pop-gay-star-intl-hnk/index.html?ref=scenemag.co.uk) attributes the difficulties LGBTQ+ Koreans face to the homophobia that is ‘still rife’ in the country, adding *“major record labels are afraid to let stars be open about their sexuality for fear that they will hurt their career.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/south-korea-gay-3-1.jpg)

## Other Gay Korean Celebrities

Thankfully Kwon Do Woon and Hong Seok Cheon are not alone and there is a growing movement in South Korea of celebs who are feeling able to come out and hopefully this will inspire non-celebs to feel able to do the same.

## Holland

Holland is a South Koren singer who’s debut single “Neverland” propelled him into the K-pop scene in a big way. The video had a same-sex kiss in it and that was a very big risk for his career. Even his name Holland is a tribute to the first country to legalise same-sex marriage.

## MRSHILL

MRSHILL bravely took the step to come out just as the others had even though it meant risking everything. MRSHILL famously appeared in an advert wearing a skirt and blouse asking Twitter “Am I a boy or a girl?”. They look amazing whatever the answer to that question is and continue to lead the way for millions of others.