The Rise of Queer Visibility in 2025 Kpop

In this episode of the K-Pop cast, the hosts discuss the significant rise of queer visibility in K-Pop, focusing on recent coming out stories from idols like Bain (Just B) and Lara (Katseye). They explore the evolving cultural shift towards acceptance and representation of LGBTQ identities within the industry, contrasting the experiences of idols in Western countries versus their home countries & the hope for a more inclusive future for idols and fans alike.

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HIT REPLAYS:

• CLOSE YOUR EYES ‘To The Woods’ Performance Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJqk6f4VGgY&ab_channel=CLOSEYOUREYES 
• JENNIE, Doechii - ExtraL (Official Video) https://youtu.be/eWAdpUyzCkI?si=0ui57ORFn0kcZOzT 
• KiiiKiii 키키 'GROUNDWORK' MV https://youtu.be/8NpCghW0Hkw?si=W-WcPYQLipcACejO

Chapters

00:00 Intro

02:21 Jennie Doechii Hit Replay

08:08 Close Your Eyse Hit Replay

11:19 KiiKii Hit Replay

14:53 Deep Dive

15:21 Bain's Coming Out and Its Impact 

20:13 Queerness in K-Pop: A Broader Discussion

23:55 Xlov & Exploring Gender Expression in K-Pop

26:46 The Rise of Chuu and Sapphic Representation

30:38 Navigating Queerness in K-Pop Idols

33:58 Cultural Differences in K-Pop and Western Audiences

40:22 Expectations of K-Pop Idols in Different Cultures

42:03 Hope for Future Representation in K-Pop

43:28 Outro

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