How Girls Generation’s Seohyun, Moon Bin and Lee Joo-young challenged gender norms by playing LGBT characters in Korean dramas
Many of us grew up watching love stories between exclusively female and male leads. Now, as societies around the world recognise the existence of multiple genders, Korean dramas are slowly adapting by featuring more LGBTQ+ lives.
On screen, we’ve met openly gay, lesbian and transgender characters in multiple dramas – with the following talented actors challenging gender norms by portraying LGBT characters.
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Lee Joo-young
Lee Joo-young made history by portraying the first transgender character in a mainstream K-drama: Ma Hyun-yi, in Itaewon Class. In an interview with Marie Claire, she discussed her preparation for the role. She admits, “I decided that rather than dwelling on gender while acting, I should act as the character Ma Hyun-yi itself.”
Ma Hyun-yi is a transgender chef at Danbam pub. Her true gender is revealed while she is out clubbing in a bar. Her colleague, Seung-kwon (Ryu Kyung-soo), flirts with her and it takes some time before he recognises her. While her workmates are uncomfortable with her revelation at first, they eventually accept her with open arms.
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Lee Kyu-hyung
Lee Kyu-hyung starred as the openly gay character Yoo Han-yang in Prison Playbook. In an interview with Yonhap News, he said “I tried my best to portray this role as genuine and affable because it’s a sensitive topic.”
During the course of the drama, many helped the character on his road to recovery as a drug addict. He also began a heartwarming relationship with Song Ji-won (Kim Joon-han).
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Lee Jong-won
In the web series XX, Lee Jong-won took on the role of Jayden, a gay perfumer. Instead of relying on tired stereotypes associated with gay men, he is interpreted as a fully rounded character, creating lasting friendships and pursuing a romantic relationship.
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Seohyun
The Girls Generation idol-turned-actress broke barriers by representing a lesbian named Anna in Hello Dracula.
Anna lives with her mum, Mi-young (Lee Ji-hyun). After she spent her life following her mother’s every wish, her mother can’t accept her identity when she comes out as a lesbian.
During a JTBC press conference, Seohyun revealed how she pulled off the character. She said, “I tried to put my sincerity into my acting. I thought I wanted to act with real feelings, not with fake ones.”
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Moon Bin
Moon Bin, the main dancer and lead vocalist from Astro, is also a talented actor. In the K-drama At Eighteen, Moon Bin played Jung Oh-je – a gay high school student.
A pivotal moment in the drama is Oh-je’s coming out to a female friend. While she had feelings for him, he confessed that he liked a male friend. He says, “I'm not used to feeling this type of emotion either. But there's nothing I can do about it.”
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From Itaewon Class and Prison Playbook to Seohyun’s heartbroken closet lesbian in Hello Dracula, South Korean series are increasingly embracing gay, lesbian and transgender roles – and these actors have all made a mark in this belated shift towards diversity