K-Pop Star on Coming Out to the World

Junghwan Reveals His Truth

Junghwan, a member of the K-pop group ENHYPEN, announced that he is gay in a personal statement on Instagram. This announcement comes after speculation and discussion within the fandom and media. Junghwan is the first member of the group to come out as gay and his announcement has been met with widespread support from his group members, label, and fans.

Statement from Junghwan

"I've been struggling for a long time, wondering how to announce this. After having a conversation with the other members, I decided to take a step forward and come forward with it. I am gay. I am still learning how to express myself and still not sure what kind of person I am, but I thought that it would be best for me to let you know about this part of me first. I ask for your support so that I can freely introduce myself without any nervousness or fear. Once again, I am gay."

Impact on ENHYPEN and Label

The group, formed by Belift Lab, a joint venture between Big Hit Entertainment and CJ ENM, has released a statement supporting Junghwan's announcement, "We, the members of ENHYPEN, are aware of Junghwan's feelings and thoughts, and we support him. It was an unexpected matter for us as well, but we are always by Junghwan's side, and we will sincerely support him. We hope that you will look warmly on Junghwan, who has been gaining attention as an artist, as he continues to express himself."

Fans and Industry Reaction

The majority of reactions from fans have been positive and supportive. Fans have tweeted using the hashtag #JunghwanWeLoveYou along with posts of support. Industry insiders and other celebrities have also voiced their support for the singer. This marks a milestone in the K-pop industry where there has been an increase in LGBTQ+ representation and discussion around queer themes.