BLACKPINK producer SINXITY says the K-pop industry has become “safer” for LGBTQIA+ community

BLACKPINK producer SINXITY has opened up about the safety he feels as a gay person working amid the K-pop industry, saying it’s “safer than in the past”.

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SINXITY, real name SJ Shin, recently spoke with Billboard in light of the debut of his new girl group, cosmosy. The South Korean music executive broke down the processes behind four-piece’s inception, stylistic concepts and the values that drive his work with cosmosy.

During the interview, SINXITY pointed out authentic connection and expression of one’s true self as some of his biggest values. “The Korean entertainment industry has become safer than in the past,” he shared. “Because I am gay, identity and diversity are very important to me and something I’m trying to build on.”

Despite it still being “not widely accepted to be in the LGBT community” with laws and restrictions against gay people, SINXITY noted that it is “more accepted and it’s a safer, better space compared to others.” He also added a disclaimer, saying: “it’s still not a thing to come out and be openly gay”.

“I have a unique identity, so I can’t help but talk about it and share myself here anyway,” the producer told the outlet, specifically recalling his time as a producer for YG Entertainment, home to BLACKPINK. “I just want to be free to create, reach more people and show them even more in these creative areas.”

Elsewhere in the interview, SINXITY also made clear since stance on the ongoing NewJeans-HYBE feud, voicing his support for the band and their former CEO, Min Hee-jin. “One more thing: wait for NewJeans and stand up for Min Hee-jin,” he said, making him the first Korean executive to show public support for the embattled former ADOR CEO.

“I really admire Min Hee-jin and respect her. She’s the one and only best producer in this K-pop industry, so I really [want to] stand with her and really pray for NewJeans to have more free activities,” he said. “We’re in some of the same networks, but I’m really just a fan. She’s really the one-and-only qualified producer.”

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