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Fans love K-pop music videos because they focus on developed storylines that create conversations and discussions. The industry has made many strides in the last couple of years, especially regarding LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream songs, but there is still a long way to go.
Idols (and stylists) in the industry often use genderless fashion during performances and appearances on runway shows, and many K-pop idols have also voiced their support for the community, supporting brands by queer designers and covering songs by queer singers.
HOLLAND's Neverland, SISTAR's One More Day, and more K-pop music videos that have LGBTQ+ representation
Breaking pre-defined molds set by society is one of the things that the LGBTQ+ community is known for, and these K-pop music videos have made ample strides in the same, opening doors for the normalizing of all identities and s*x*alities in visual media in Korea.
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1) SISTAR's One More Day with Giorgio Moroder
Those who have been K-pop fans since its inception might already be aware of SISTAR's impact on the genre.
Their 2016 track, One More Day, features a stylish music video with two women protagonists partying and living it up in their own world. The video features a kiss between the women that gets hidden by the camera panning upwards after a suggestive lip-gloss sharing moment.
One of the women has an abusive boyfriend, who interrupts their rendezvous with phone calls, much to the other woman's chagrin. It takes an unpredictable turn when he finally appears, ending on an inevitable yet shocking note.
A trailblazer in its realm, this is one of the K-pop music videos fans will have a lot of fun dissecting.
2) OnlyOneOf's libidO
One of the few K-pop groups regularly exploring LGBTQ+ themes in its music, OnlyOneOf has carved out a unique niche in the industry. If SISTAR's video briefly touches upon queer desire, libidO openly celebrates it.
The choreography walks the thin line between provocative and artful, expressing yearning and passion through light touches and long glances. Reminding one of the times of their youth, it subtly makes the point that desire is a healthy and important part of growing up, too.
While this is one of the K-pop music videos that received a fair bit of criticism because of the more suggestive bits, its grit, and brevity to the topic make it particularly appealing, even in conservative societies.
3) K.will's Please Don't...
In 2012, K.will caused waves with the music video of Please Don't... featuring actors Seo In-guk, Ahn Jae-hyun, and SISTAR's Dasom with a surprising twist at the end. At the onset, the song seems to be just another song about unrequited love, where Seo In-guk's character is irritated before his friends' wedding.
As the video progresses, the heartfelt lyrics and In-guk's impressive acting skills seem to draw the viewer in. He keeps up appearances till the wedding, where the three protagonists snap a picture together with Dasom in the middle. It all comes together at the end when In-guk tears the picture they took together and places Jae-hyun and his own hand together.
The two music video leads were reunited in 2024. They reunited after 12 years for the spiritual sequel of Please Don't...; titled No Sad Song for My Broken Heart and sung by K.will again. It is another of the K-pop music videos that creates a heartwrenching storyline for the two leads.
4) HOLLAND's Neverland
There aren't many K-pop music videos that feature an LGBTQ+ personality who is open about their preferences. When Holland debuted in 2018 with his electric track Neverland, he became the first openly gay idol to debut in the K-pop music industry. The song was a celebration of his truth, which was difficult for him because he was refused by many companies who wanted him to hide his s*xu*lity.
Neverland is also different from the usual storylines given to queer stories in Korean entertainment because it speaks of a happy relationship, reminiscent of a coming-of-age story with a romantic storyline. It is also one of the few K-pop music videos to feature an out-and-out kiss between two men, making it stand out in many ways.
5) BTS' V's FRI(END)S
BTS has been known to have various types of representation in their K-pop music videos, and V's FRI(END)S is no exception. The music video is very complex, featuring multiple storylines with Kim Tae-hyung (aka V) being the protagonist in each of them.
The first iteration of the story has happy couples all around, with Tae-hyung being the single person, a fact that bothers him to no end. These couples include multiple same-s*x couples, with love being the common factor connecting them all. This may seem to be an understated detail, but it is a representation in its true form.
No over-the-top portrayals can hold a candle to this integration where there is diversity as we see worldwide. Indirect yet pointed, this small detail made many queer ARMY fans feel seen by their idols.
While still far away from unconditional acceptance of queer individuals around the world, these K-pop music videos are proof that some effort has been made to nudge in the right direction. Our hopes are for positive and happy portrayals of LGBTQ+ individuals in the future, with more industry stalwarts acknowledging queer individuals as valid and respectable.
