K-Pop Group JUSTB Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop Moving Forward

Last year, on April 22 in Los Angeles, the K-pop group JUSTB’s lives were changed when one of its members came out to the audience as part of the LGBTQ+ community. With the support of the members – Lim Jimin, Geonu, Siwoo, DY, and Sangwoo, Bain wanted to be true to himself, following the wise words of his idol, Lady Gaga, to live authentically because he was “Born This Way.”

Now, one year later (on April 24), the group (Lim Jimin is currently on hiatus) returned to LA for their Snow Angel Tour at Catch One, performing some of their new tracks from their recent EP, Snow Angel. So much has changed for the group – both good and bad.

Since Bain’s announcement, JUSTB has gained many fans, mainly international, and has received significant press and media attention. Though the attention was focused on Bain, which he felt guilty about, it brought more fans listening to the group, increasing their stream numbers, follower count, and notoriety among mainstream international outlets.

But Bain reveals there were challenges when the group returned home to South Korea, where LGBTQ+ issues and representation are still considered taboo. The members began receiving hate comments, with many questioning the sexuality of the other members. Bain felt guilty about the pain he had caused them and began to question whether he had done the right thing. The members did admit they felt pressure after Bain came out, but they knew it was for the best, understanding how difficult it had been for Bain.

“[The members] didn’t have to see these bad comments, but it’s because of me that they are dealing with this,” Bain says in English during lunch in Downtown Los Angeles. “We talked about it, and we concluded it was good because we’re trying to be honest about ourselves. We’re breaking boundaries. It feels good. It just feels good.”

Bain feels the positive impact his reveal has had on people. Though there are a few hateful comments, he’s mostly received love and many positive messages from people inspired by him. So many people have told him they’re proud of him and that he inspired them to come out to their friends and family.

“It feels like I’m doing the right thing,” Bain says, emotionally. “It feels like that’s why I’m here. That’s why I keep trying new things. I’m so proud.”

As one boundary broke, more began to topple as JUSTB explored their own sound and creativity, feeling less restricted by standard K-pop practices. As young artists in their mid-20s who had started as trainees as early as their teens and had participated in intense music survival shows, the members faced rigorous training, criticism, and rejection before reaching adulthood. With their mini and single albums, Just Burn (2021), Just Beat (2021), Just Begun (2022), = (Neun) (2022), JUST Be with you Pt. 1 (2023), and ÷ (Nanugi) (2023), they explored the music where they followed the beat to their own drum, capturing their rage and passion for the music. As they grew as artists, they also participated more in the creative process. DY and Geonu have written and composed many of the group’s songs, with the other members contributing to writing, composing, choreography, or production direction.

With Snow Angel, the group went bold and experimental with their sound, blending hyper-pop and lyrics that play on finding warmth in the cold and healing from their scars. With the lively electronic beats, Geonu really wanted the music to feel freeing, allowing people to let go and let it all out.

“We released [the track] ‘CHEST’ then went on our last tour, and Bain came out, which was a gateway for us,” Geonu explains after the LA show. “Now, we released a full hyper-pop album, Snow Angel, and our show can feel like a rave rather than the typical K-pop concerts. They’re not bad, but it’s different. Our show is very different. I think our fans really love it, raving and jumping together.”

He was not kidding.

JUSTB’s concert felt so intimate, with full laser lights filling the dark room and electronic music playing in the background. It feels like a club as many fans begin dancing to the EDM beats. The songs being played weren’t just JUSTB songs, but also popular hits that felt engaging, like Zedd’s “Clarity” and Bain’s favorite, Lady Gaga. The energy was so high that everyone in the room was hyped and ready to party. It was hard not to want to bang your head to the beat. When they began the concert, they impressively maintained that high level of energy.

Siwoo noticed something was different about the fans this year: they were very diverse, not only in the types of people but also in the types of fans. He states, “Last year, almost all of our audience were K-pop fans. There are still a lot of K-pop fans, but I’ve been seeing more general music fans lately. I can feel it.”

It could be because their sound has changed. Sangwoo credits their producer and creative director, O.Kwon, for linking the group with the right producers, songwriters, and beatmakers. He shares, “He really helped us find our way with this sound and genre – hyper-pop like electronic pop. We are really grateful for it.”

Bain, who performed a medley of Lady Gaga songs during his solo set, says their music has become really bold and loud. He exclaims, “It feels like they’re saying to me – just go for it!”

“Before we released Snow Angel, we released ‘CHEST’ and a lot of fans loved it,” Bain adds. “We have confidence that maybe we can do it more and make a hyper-pop album. Even with the lyrics, we tried to be bolder.”

Geonu appreciates that fans can hear their hardships and resilience in the music, especially after what they’ve endured as trainees struggling to debut. Then, to debut, they have to fight to stay on top.

“You know the background of our team,” he says candidly. “We attended a lot of survival shows when we were teenagers. We came through a lot. To be honest, in the past, we had the typical K-pop songs that weren’t our stories. Since DY started to make songs, and we all contributed music that contains our feelings, emotions, and stories.”

He recalls struggling during Mnet’s music competition ‘Road to Kingdom,” calling it the “hardest time we’ve ever met.” He admits the group almost disbanded then. He shares, “But we kept going on. We got to do hyper-pop. Now we have two modes: Mode A is hyper-pop and electro-pop, which is really cool. And Mode B is punk rock.”

Sangwoo agrees, remembering their journey on the show. It made him realize not to listen to others and try to focus on himself and his inner thoughts and feelings.

“I try to be in the zone, but at the same time, if another challenge or chance comes to us, then I won’t hesitate to take that challenge again,” Sangwoo relays. “If it’s a good and right challenge for us.”

DY, who wrote and composed much of the music, doesn’t dwell too much on the past and is moving forward with what he wants to create next. He says bluntly, “To be honest, I can’t really relate to the Snow Angel album. Neither the lyrics nor the instruments feel closely connected to my life or reflect who I am. To me, Snow Angel was simply a means for JUSTB to survive—the only path we had at the time. So rather than relating to the message within the music itself, I resonate more with the reality behind it—the process of how the album was made, and the fact that it became part of JUSTB’s story.”

JUSTB has been openly embraced by the international fans, who have praised the group’s music, concepts, and the individual members. They’ve also made English songs, which makes them feel more global than pop. The members are quick to explain that they’re still K-pop. Geonu acknowledges that the group isn’t as well-known domestically but would still like to focus on the K in K-pop, as long as they can do it their way. He states, “The world is fast, but we go our way. I want to go in the direction that JUSTB feels fun and good.”

DY agrees, “Right now, a lot of our music is dominated by English, but I’m Korean and grew up speaking Korean, so I’d like to create more songs in Korean. I believe that when we do, our genuine emotions will resonate with global fans as well.”

Bain is proud to be part of K-pop since they debuted as a group in Korea and are all Korean. He also feels the group has evolved into something different from the original K-pop genre, but their own kind of it. He laughs, “I can’t find the answers. So, I’ll just say, does that matter? For me, it doesn’t, because I don’t want to judge anything. Genre isn’t something we want to be confined by; it’s more like a tool we can use to express different emotions. There are so many sounds we want to explore, even ones that don’t really have a name yet. The same goes for language. If it helps us tell the story in a more honest way, we’re willing to try anything.”

K-pop has evolved over time and expanded globally. Sangwoo says as long as they can connect with their fans, nothing else really matters. He says, “Moving forward, we’d love to go wherever our fans are.”

Known for his chill vibes, Siwoo is calm and relaxed, even after just performing on stage. He simply goes with the flow when it comes to their music. He reflects, “If a good opportunity comes our way, we won’t hesitate to take it. Whether it’s in Korea or overseas, we plan to keep expanding JUSTB’s reach wherever we go.”

Until then, JUSTB is enjoying their much-needed vacation after their whirlwind schedule of making music and touring the world. Bain is enjoying some time in LA before heading south of the border to spend time with friends. Geonu is just trying to relax (and not think about work), taking in the sunny weather and riding his bike. Siwoo has been building his LEGO sets and enjoying baseball to recharge both physically and mentally before returning to work. Sangwoo, too, has been resting. Ever the creative, DY is currently thinking about the next album and what music to create. He replies, “I’ll do something cool—I don’t know the details yet myself.”

Bain says when they get back from vacation, the group will discuss the next album. He would love to try a ballroom concept with the group, but he’s even scared to attempt it. He understands it may not be for everyone, but he’s glad he feels comfortable enough to share it now. He laughs, “That would be so fun. It might be a huge thing, even for me. I would enjoy it, of course. This is one of my ideas.”

He later adds, “Honestly, we don’t fully know where we’re going yet, and I think that’s the most honest place to be. There’s something beautiful about not having all the answers. What I do know is that I’m excited for what’s coming. For who we’re becoming, and for the stories we haven’t told yet.”

Though they don’t yet know what their plans are, they are all excited about the next step. Geonu shares, “I would like to say that we will show you the results that can be more sticky from inside JUSTB, JUSTB+ONLYB (their fandom), and even those who will soon become fans. I think we’ve built up a good process to become more famous in 2026 and 2027.”

The laid-back Siwoo simply states, “JUSTB doesn’t stop.”