Random J Playlist: Queer Ass K-Pop | a K-Pop Pride Playlist

You can't get much queerer than K-Pop. The colours, the sounds, the fashions, the vibrancy of it as a whole. Every month is Pride month in K-Pop, which in some ways is a reflection of the malleability that exists in gender expression in South Korea versus other places in the world. Yet when it comes to the rights of LGBTDEFG+ folk, the powers that be suddenly do not see it. And idol culture is so damn strict and toxic, that if any K-Pop star were to come out, their career would be over - despite queerbaiting being used frequently in concepts to spark fires in the fandom. It's all a mess. But we been knew.

I don't think it would be a stretch to say that there is a sizeable cross section of K-Pop fans who are part of the LGBTUVWXYZ+ community. Some K-Pop concepts go out of their way to queer bait, and yet there is always this reluctance to support queerness openly and honestly. Sure, there's out K-Pop stars like Holland, but he ain't at SM, YG or JYP levels of fame and exposure. The closest I feel we got to this was Jo Kwoncé Seouls-Carter. The sexuality of whom had been speculated for a while because of his antics on variety shows. And not to stereotype cis gendered men who are in touch with their femme side as automatically being gay; but Jo Kwon's love of heels, pop divas and knowing the choreo to ALL the songs from the K-Pop girlies always had many of us asking if he's...ya know. And I always thought that his quiet exit from K-Pop and lack of desire to return to it proper was out of knowing that he wouldn't be able to have the big career he wanted if he embraced genderless fashion or fluidity with his looks - as he does in his personal life.

South Korea isn't as open with queerness as other parts of the world, which feels so at odds with what we see in K-Pop. Looking to K-Pop for inclusiveness is a joke. But the fact that so many fans do look to it for validation would make genuine queer representation and support all the more powerful. But K-Pop is also a machine that works to do what it needs to based on a long-standing status quo which upholds heteronormativity. The straight girls need to be able to believe they have a shot with all the boys, and the straight guys need to believe they have a shot with the girls. Lesbians don't care because they'll always feel they could be BoA's stud. And gays will stay wanting Wonho to sit on their faces regardless.

HENNYWAY.

For you queer ass K-Pop fans and K-Pop listeners, here's the playlist you probably already have. Take this as a sign that ya'll aren't alone. And whilst K-Pop doesn't openly support queerness in the ways it should, that doesn't mean you can't see yourself or things that you like within it.

🎧 Listen on Spotify: Queer Ass K-Pop | a K-Pop Pride Playlist