August 12 2025, 08:15 
Korean pop star Cherry has publicly come out as transgender and said that she uses she/her pronouns, making her one of the first openly trans women in the K-pop industry.
“This isn’t a hobby, it’s my life. I’m trans,” Cherry said during a heartfelt Instagram Live stream. “Because I wasn’t an ordinary person, I couldn’t reveal everything from the start. My goal was to take it slow. I’m just going with my goal.”
Related
Modern Family star Aubrey Anderson-Emmons comes out as bisexual using iconic moment from the show
During the livestream, Cherry said that she had felt confused about her gender identity for a long time, but feels much happier since coming out.
Cherry first gained public attention in 2016 on the reality competition Boys24, where contestants vied for spots in the show’s namesake boy band. Although she didn’t make the final lineup, she later joined the K-pop group JWiiver under the stage name Ryujei. JWiiver disbanded in January 2024 after releasing a mini album in 2022.
Never Miss a Beat
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights.
Subscribe to our Newsletter today
While more K-pop idols have begun speaking openly about their sexual orientation and gender identity in recent years — such as Bain of JUST B, who shared in April that he is “proud to be part of the LGBT community” — LGBTQ+ representation in K-pop and South Korean media remains limited, and artists who come out often face homophobic backlash from the industry.
Same-sex relationships are legal in South Korea, but they are socially stigmatized and banned for military personnel. The country also does not recognize same-sex marriage and bars same-sex couples from adopting children.
Transgender visibility is particularly rare in South Korea. Trans people in the country face significant barriers to legally changing their gender, accessing gender-affirming care, and finding stable employment and housing. A 2019 Williams Institute report found that only 12% of South Koreans reported knowing someone who is transgender.
In December, Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk told TV Guide that finding and casting a trans actor for the show’s second season was “near impossible.” Similarly, while the 2020 drama Itaewon Class included a trans woman character, she was played by a cisgender actress.
Despite these challenges, Cherry’s fans celebrated her coming out, flooding social media with messages of support and making the hashtag #ProudOfCherry trend across South Korean platforms.
“I’m so happy & proud! It’s amazing to see more trans rep in K-pop, as it’s super uncommon for there to be trans idols, & specifically openly trans idols. Best wishes to her 
