I'm Not Afraid - Holland

As LGBTQ+ rights are still debated in South Korean politics, representation in their media and entertainment has also lacked progress. Only a few entertainers, such as transgender celebrity Harisu and actor Hong Seok-chong have publicly come out. However, the year of 2018 brought the debut of Holland, K-pop’s first ever openly gay idol. One of Holland’s songs is I’m Not Afraid, a declaration of self-acceptance as he rejects the negative views of his sexual orientation. Although the structure and production of the song fits the typical K-pop sound, the message is counter-hegemonic to the country’s current standpoint. By incorporating support for gay rights into the Korean music industry, Holland brings forth LGBTQ+ visibility and representation to a society that has yet to fully accept it. While he has received an immense amount of backlash due to his sexual orientation, his music has gained support from international fans as well as socially progressive Koreans.

The messages within I’m Not Afraid involve the years of LGBTQ+ discrimination in Korean politics as well as Holland’s personal life. As the country’s dominant social ideology centers around heterosexuality as “normal” and “proper”, Holland’s music counters that by accepting who he is and setting aside the fear that used to overwhelm him. He references the bullying and internal conflict he personally experienced through the “tears” and the “string that was tangled badly”, but follows with the declaration that he’s “not afraid anymore.” By removing the negative connotation surrounding homosexualtiy, Holland sets a contrasting ideology in which listeners can decode as resistant to Korea’s intolerance of the LGBTQ+ community. This song can also be interpreted as a call for change, suggesting that Korea should move towards equality along with the other countries that have socially progressed. I’m Not Afraid is written from the perspective of a gay man overcoming the stigma his own society has placed on him, so listeners from various perspectives will decode the song differently. People of the LGBTQ+ community may relate to Holland’s story of sexual identity and be inspired to accept who they are despite what others think. Other listeners may have never struggled with their sexual orientation but still connect with the idea of self-acceptance and apply it to other aspects of their lives. Whatever listeners take from this song, Holland is choosing to open up about his sexuality to the public in a time period where the LGBTQ+ community has yet to receive complete acceptance.