Yeri, Tiffany, CL and K-pop stars openly support the LGBT community

LGBT representation is still taboo in Korea, but K-pop idols like Shinee's Jonghyun and Girls' Generation's Tiffany aren't afraid to voice their support as allies.

Search anywhere in the world, online or offline, and you'll likely come across some form of Korean influence. From the growing interest in Korean cosmetics and romance movies, to the popularity of the Dalgona coffee trend, there is no denying that Korean culture has become entwined with global culture.

Participants dressed as Superman and Wonder Woman pose during a gay pride festival in Seoul, South Korea, in July 2017.

But despite contributing to worldwide trends and popular culture, South Korea remains surprisingly conservative in terms of gender and the LGBTQ community.

There is also an unspoken pressure on celebrities, especially K-pop idols, who are expected to become role models for young people.

However, some idols have dared to go against the issue, using their platforms to bravely advocate for the LGBTQ community.

Jo Kwon of 2AM's

Jo Kwon has publicly confirmed that he has no gender.

When Jo Kwon promoted his debut solo track Animal on a pair of Jeffrey Campbell heels, we couldn't help but wonder if he wanted to let people know about something. Over the years, however, Jo Kwon's love affair with heels has remained unchanged, giving him the opportunity to discover new sides of himself and strengthen his connection to the culture.

"Genderlessness is my weapon," he shared in an interview with Newsis. Instead of avoiding the androgynous image he was known for, he exploited it. Since making her musical debut as King Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar, Jo Kwon has chosen to star in oddball-focused musicals like Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Everybody's Talking About Jamie - even when his performance was criticized by the public.

Jo Kwon is one of four actors to star in Everybody's Talking About Jamie, a musical about a boy who aspires to be a girl.

"There's a drag queen in the musical," he said of Jamie. "As time goes on, it looks like Jamie will be embraced by more and more open-minded audiences."

Jo Kwon has also performed with Lachica and the quirky dance crew Coming Out on the viral competition show, Street Woman Fighter. A tribute to the quirky people of the world, the performance was set to Lady Gaga's narcissistic song, Born This Way.

2NE1's CL

Rapper and songwriter Lee Chae-rin, better known as CL.

CL has long been an advocate and friend of the gay community. In a 2013 interview with Elle, she expressed her love for her LGBTQ friends and fans. “They are so special and talented,” she said.

She is best known for being close friends with openly gay fashion designer - Jeremy Scott - Moschino's creative director.

A true ally, CL celebrates the community's victory. In 2019, when Taiwan became the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage, she took to social media to share the news in 2019.

Girls' Generation's Tiffany

As if Girls' Generation's debut hit, Into the New World, wasn't iconic enough, it became a progressive song in South Korea. To celebrate Pride Month, Tiffany teamed up with Neon Milk, an LGBTQ creative collective, to release a special version of the song.

In 2018, Tiffany wrote a sincere love letter to the community for Billboard. In her letter, she reflects on her struggles as a Korean-American and thanks the community for inspiring her with their unconditional love and hope.

She wrote, "I'm thankful and blessed to be able to work with and love so many wonderful individuals in the LGBTQ community who have contributed so much love to my art and my life."

Shinee's Jonghyun

Kim Jong-hyun, a member of the South Korean K-pop group Shinee.

The second generation of K-pop marked the beginning of idols using social networks as we know them today. It was during this era that celebrities began to switch from using Cyworld's Mini Hompy to platforms like Instagram and Twitter, giving them a space to interact more often with their fans.

Shinee's Jonghyun is loved by many fans.

Playfully nicknamed "Jjong-tizen" by fans, Shinee's Jonghyun is known to regularly take to Twitter and post about current events - even when they're deemed controversial. In 2013, when a transgender and bisexual student faced discrimination at university, Jonghyun reached out via a private message on Twitter. He expressed support and commended her for sending the message that being different doesn't mean being wrong.

Sadly, Jonghyun passed away in 2017.

Red Velvet's Yeri

Red Velvet's Yeri supports the LGBTQ community.

In honor of Pride Month, Twitter user @kimnonsan conducts an annual survey ranking the 100 most popular female idols among Korean women and lesbians. The members of Red Velvet have consistently ranked in the top 25, with Irene and Seulgi taking the top spot for the past few years.

There have been several instances where Red Velvet members expressed their support for the LGBTQ community.

However, fans note that Yeri seems to have a strong connection to the community. She is close friends with openly gay Korean musician Holland, who was recently subjected to a homophobic attack. Yeri also proudly wrapped the rainbow flag around her body during the group's Redmare concert in Los Angeles.

The Boyz's Kevin

Said to be a walking pop culture diary, Kevin of The Boyz is the one with all the references - including the pillars of LGBTQ culture. He mentioned watching Pose, a show that focuses on New York's transgender culture and history, several times. He is a fan of RuPaul's Drag Race and has said that he would gladly give his savings to Bianca Del Rio. He also reads and recommends books that revolve around protagonists in same-sex relationships.

While using gay-centric media and supporting the gay community are completely different issues, Kevin ticks both of those boxes. He wore sportswear that benefitted the LGBTQ community and also respected people's pronouns.

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