Who is the first openly K-Pop gay artist?

Holland is widely recognized as the first openly gay K-pop artist or idol. Born Go Tae-seob, he made his solo debut in 2018 with “Neverland,” a song and video that openly portrayed a same-sex romance.

Holland chose his stage name as a reference to the Netherlands, which became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2001. Because he was not backed by a major entertainment company, he funded his debut independently after agencies hesitated to work with an openly gay performer.

The wording can be slightly imprecise: Holland is commonly called the first openly gay K-pop idol, while other openly LGBTQ+ Korean musicians, including MRSHLL, had been active before or around the same period. Holland’s distinction concerns his public identity and role in the K-pop idol world, not the claim that he was the first LGBTQ+ musician from Korea.