Two years ago, Hoya from Infinite (who played Jun-hee) made an appearance on 4-Things Show (4가지쇼). He briefly discussed about the treatment he received by peers after playing a gay character in Reply 1997.
“I was a bit traumatized at hearing I liked men. What was worse was that I heard even celebrities asked about my sexuality. It went as far as to traumatize me. It was like this for over a year after the drama’s finale.”
Hoya’s former bandmate, Dongwoo, reiterates,
“People around us asked if Hoya liked men. Broadcasting people were like that and even celebrities asked.”
The choice of words Hoya used to describe the speculations regarding his sexuality resulting from the drama is peculiar and insensitive. He is inferring that being homosexual is traumatizing for the self and others, and speculations about his sexuality were emotionally damaging. What does that mean for non-heterosexual individuals when people like Hoya say they are “traumatized” because people question their heterosexuality? He is reinforcing homophobia by implying that the notion that homosexuality/queerness does not belong in Korean society. In addition, he is implicating that his “traumatic” experience playing a gay character is equivalent to the everyday lives of gay individuals in Korea that are subjected to discrimination and hostility when coming out. Drawing false equivalences between the two only diminishes the already muffled voices of gay activists in South Korea. If he was truly worried about how people perceived him for playing a gay character, he should have never agreed to it in the beginning.
For our Korean readers, watch a snippet of the show below:
(Translated quotes from allkpop.com)
Alim17. “Hoya reveals he was asked about his sexuality after playing a gay character in ‘Reply 1997’.” Allkpop. February 10, 2015. Accessed October 31, 2017. https://www.allkpop.com/article/2015/02/hoya-reveals-he-was-asked-about-his-sexuality-after-playing-a-gay-character-in-reply-1997
Kelly x