K-pop star Bain proudly came out as gay while performing live on stage during an LA concert on Tuesday, April 22.

The 24-year-old made the unexpected announcement during the last night of JUST B’s JUST ODD World Tour. Midway through the show, the music paused and Bain addressed the crowd directly, sharing: “Before I start the next song, tonight I want to share something with you guys.”

He took a breath before announcing: “I’m f*cking proud to be part of the LGBT community!” The crowd immediately erupted into cheers and applause, marking a rare moment of LGBTQ+ representation in K-pop.

Through the cheers, Bain added: “Shout-out to my queen Lady Gaga for showing me that being yourself is beautiful. To everyone out there who’s part of the LGBTQ+ or still figuring it out, this is for you guys. And also, this is for everyone. You’re seen, you’re loved, and you are born this way.”

He then performed Lady Gaga’s iconic gay anthem ‘Born This Way’ while waving a Pride flag on stage.

Bain closed out the concert and world tour alongside his bandmates Geonu, Lim Jimin, Siwoo, DY, and Sangwoo. As the last song came to a close, Bain thanked the crowd again for their support: “I’m so happy that I can be myself. I just wanna say until next time: Stay bold, stay fierce, and lastly, always, always be your true selves.”

The following day, Bain made the news Instagram official in a heartfelt post. He also offered some advice to any queer fans who may be struggling to come out: “I want to share something real with you. I’m proud to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community — as a gay person.”

He then referenced his “queen Lady Gaga” and added: “To anyone out there who’s part of the LGBTQ+ community, or still figuring it out — this is for you. You are seen, you are loved, and you were born this way.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by BAIN (@6a1n__)

Bain’s announcement makes him the first member of a K-pop group to come out as gay live on stage. Many see it as monumental, since queer representation is rare in the Korean pop scene, given South Korean’s conservative stance on LGBTQ+ identities.

South Korean artist Holland came out as gay in 2018, and a few other Korean musicians have come out as queer during their careers including the “openly LGBTQ+” boy band, Lionesses, whose debut single was called ‘Show Me Your Pride‘. However, Bain’s bold on-stage declaration feels like the first of its kind, particularly for an artist who is at the peak of his career.

Fans hope his message will lead to more dialogue about diversity and representation in the industry, so fewer LGBTQ+ artists will have to face discrimination and homophobia in their careers.

While many fans and fellow artists have offered him love and support, following his announcement, JUST B’s agency, BLUEDOT Entertainment, only shared this: “Since this pertains to Bain’s personal life and sexual identity, it is difficult for us to provide a separate statement.”

Bain’s band, JUST B, launched in June 2021 and has released five EPs to date. They quickly earned an international fandom, gaining 6 million on-demand official streams in the US alone. Their 2025 world tour kicked off in Tokyo in March and featured several hits, including their 2024 English pop-punk single ‘Daddy’s Girl’.