K-Pop artist Cherry comes out as trans to overwhelming fan support

K-pop artist Cherry has publicly announced that she is transgender and will be using she/her pronouns. The announcement has been met with an outpouring of support from fans, who are celebrating Cherry's courage and visibility.

"I'm so happy and proud! It's amazing to see more trans representation in K-pop, as it's super uncommon," one fan shared on social media, echoing the sentiment of many.

As reported by LGBTQ+ Nation, Cherry made the announcement during an emotional Instagram Live stream, stating, "This isn't a hobby, it's my life. I'm trans. 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." She shared that she had felt uncertain about her gender identity for a long time but feels significantly happier since coming out.

Cherry initially gained recognition on the reality competition Boys24 in 2016 and later joined the K-pop group JWiiver under the stage name Ryujei. While LGBTQ+ representation in K-pop is increasing, it remains limited, and artists who come out often face prejudice.

South Korea has legal same-sex relationships but lacks broader protections, such as marriage equality and adoption rights for same-sex couples. Transgender individuals face substantial hurdles in legally changing their gender, obtaining gender-affirming care, and securing stable employment and housing.

Despite these challenges, fans have rallied around Cherry, using the hashtag #ProudOfCherry on social media to express their support.