K-pop has come a long way, captivating fans worldwide with its catchy beats, slick choreography, and colorful music videos. However, the industry has been slow to embrace diversity and inclusivity.
K-pop fans often enthusiastically ship their favorite idols, but unfortunately, the industry has historically struggled with accepting and supporting LGBTQ+ artists.
Things are about to change as the K-pop industry is about to get its first openly gay idol, Xinche from POLARIX.
POLARIX is a 9-member project boy group under Cube Entertainment and Idol Youth Entertainment, a collaboration between South Korea and China.
Formed through the iQIYI and SBS survival show “Starlight Boys”, where 69 male contestants participated for a spot in the upcoming boy group.
It consists of Pentor, Hangyul, Lee Junhyuk, Xu Shihuan, Yang Donghwa, Lee Daeul, Zai, Shao Ziheng, and Xinche. They are scheduled to debut in 2025.
Xinche, born on August 30, 2006, is the maknae (youngest) of POLARIX, and one of the most popular members of the group so far.
The 18-year-old Chinese trainee from UN4 has caught attention for his notable physical appearance and AI-like visuals.
In addition to his activities on the show, he previously worked as a social media influencer and has a significant following on Douyin, with over 770,000 fans.
His old posts with his alleged ex-boyfriend playing games and sharing intimate moments are going viral. The content, originally shared on Douyin, includes live streams, videos, and photos of the pair. Additional screenshots and images reveal that the couple publicly displayed their relationship on social media.
After learning that he is gay, Xinche attracted a large fanbase, with many expressing support for the debut of an openly gay idol in a K-pop group.
Meanwhile, POLARIX is set to debut next year.
