Content Warning: transphobia, misgendering, queerphobic slurs, doxing, bullying

*How to read, interactive version: The first article has links to the other “sites.” These are also color-coded.

*How to read, static version: Everything is presented in chronological order except for the first article, which acts as a sort of introduction.

K-Pop Trio JJS: Who They Are, What They’re Doing Now, and Why Everyone Cares

Alter the Paradigm Magazine: Pop/Rock Music News

27 July 2024

Last night, K-pop trio JJS debuted their new song “Two, One… Zero” in a dynamic comeback performance on M Countdown. A countdown starting at 10 flashed on the screen, and JJS’s fans, who call themselves JDoubles, shouted along with each subsequent number increasing in volume. When the number reached zero, JJS launched into a loud and fun pop-rock number with the words “Blast Off” shining behind them. This is by far the trio’s most complex song and performance to date.

JJS debuted exactly one year ago under a previously unknown entertainment company called Red Ink Productions with the song “Fly High Spotlight.” JJS is a trio made up of the American-born singer and dancer Jisung, the Korean singer Sangwon, and singer-rapper Jae—whose origins are a bit of a mystery, due to his proficiency in several non-Korean languages. Their somewhat uninspired band name consists of the initials of the three members’ anglicized stage names from oldest to youngest.

Before the release of the “Two, One… Zero” music video a week ago, JJS took a two-month-long break from their activities despite having debuted less than a year before the hiatus’s start. For much of these two months, JJS seemed to disappear completely. Only the most loyal JDoubles perpetuated the band’s online presence, fearing that the trio would disband quietly if no one rallied around them.

JJS has recently been the subject of controversy online for their reluctance to speak out for or against the LGBT+ community. Their oldest member, Jisung, was spotted several times with a “mystery foreigner” in both the United States and South Korea. Internet sleuths discovered the identity of this stranger, who happened to be a transgender American who goes by the name Layne Kaleta. Except for a vague message from Red Ink Productions, the trio has not acknowledged fans’ questions and concerns.  

Perhaps in order to distract from these concerns, or maybe even to address them, JJS had one more trick up their sleeves during their performance.

After the action-packed number, the background dance crew left the stage and the trio stepped up to three mic stands, launching into a ballad entitled “Weeping Willow,” another song from their upcoming album Path of Stars. The lyrics invited listeners into an enchanted garden, a deviation from the cosmic theme fans expected in this album and that their opening number had leaned into.

If this was an attempt at distraction, it failed miserably. With phrases about concealed magic and unexpected love, this song is making fans go crazy online. Many believe these sightings with Kaleta could be a publicity stunt to prepare their fans for a new message of inclusivity. Fan art depicting a willow tree as a guardian of the LGBT+ community has already cropped up online. Other JDoubles believe that these assumptions are farfetched as the lyrics’ themes of hopefulness and finding joy in the face of difficulty appear in many of their previous songs.  

During their post-show livestream, all three members ignored the myriad comments about this issue, and many JDoubles found themselves booted from the chat after posting anything potentially hateful or harmful, from questioning people’s identities to outright slurs. The members carried on like it was any other comeback, and perhaps, to them, it was. After all, JJS are no strangers to being the odd ones out in the K-pop industry.

Along with the bold decision to take an early break, their largely non-Korean fanbase, and the mysterious Red Ink Productions company, JJS’s stage performances are also unorthodox for the genre. As K-pop performances became bigger and bolder, JJS defied the industry and debuted as just three guys on stage with a backing track. The simplicity of their music, and their supposedly democratic power dynamic, struck a chord with a sizeable group of listeners. Their breakout song “Everglow” charted in several different countries, including Germany and Australia, and doubled JJS’s international fanbase despite local JDoubles remaining few in number.   

The trio has since upgraded their performances by adding a backing band on stage instead of just a track, and now for the first time, a dance crew.

Whatever the truth may be, both “Two, One… Zero” and “Weeping Willow” have continued with JJS’s common theme of loving yourself and chasing dreams. And whether or not the band intends to address the LGBT+ community directly or not, these are still messages every JDouble can benefit from.

Update 1: Hours after this article was posted, JJS released an official response to all of the rumors surrounding Layne Kaleta and his involvement with the members of JJS. Not much was revealed, though they did indirectly acknowledge Kaleta as “one of [their] friends.”

Update 2: On Aug. 1, 2024, Layne Kaleta made a public Instagram post confirming his relationship with JJS and reprimanding those who blew up the situation.

Comments

• Jay Thatcher (she/her): Supporting the queer community shouldn’t make you the “odd one out” or “controversial.” It’s just basic human decency.
• Nadia Agarwal: Sangwon oppa’s abs. 🥵
• Mi-Kyung Park: Jae was born in Gwangju! He’s just genius.
  • Québécoise JDouble 🌟🇨🇦: He said in a live that he learned Spanish, French, and Italian just because they were touring Europe.
    • Anneliese Kempf: He spoke a little German in that live, too! Love from German JDoubles!
• Rosheen Malone: This is old news. I’m tired of hearing about LGBT-this and LGBT-that. Can’t music just be music, and artists just be artists?
  • JDouble_JTrouble: Right? Weeping Willow is not a gay song. Not every song about safe spaces is about gays. They took the rainbow; don’t take our music!
    • Jay Thatcher (she/her): Cishet people are always taking our rights and lives. We just want to share in the color and music of life.
      • JDouble_JTrouble: [comment deleted]
• 🌈intherainbowspotlight: Can’t wait for the rest of the album! I’m feeling extraterrestrial garden vibes. Anyone else?
  • Jae’s Number One Bae: What does that even mean?
    • 🌈intherainbowspotlight: You know… future civilization living in the stars but still needing the sanctuary of gardens
      • Jae’s Number One Bae: they’re not writing a sci-fi book
        • LifeMovesPrettyFast14196: I would read that book.
          • Everglowgirl020798: me too!
• FlyingHighforJJS Art🌟: Check out my JJS fanart account!

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JJS:K-Pop or Pop Stars from Korea?

AnonMusicDebates.com/k-pop/JJS

22 May 2024

As part of the Hallyu, or “Korean Wave,” K-pop has become a globally recognized phenomenon in large part thanks to the boyband BTS, who have been serving their mandatory military service over the past year and a half. The boyband’s youngest, Jung Kook, put out an all-English album before beginning service, and during promotions for this album, the phrase “global pop star” was often thrown around. Still, Jung Kook’s music appears on many K-pop playlists, charts, and music shows, as do many hip-hop songs made by Korean artists. Based on this, any music made by a Korean artist could be considered K-pop. But should it be?

This is a topic that has been debated before and in different arenas—is “Young Adult” merely a descriptor or is it now a literary genre? Is pop music just anything that’s popular?

The recently and suddenly announced two-month break of South Korean trio JJS has reignited the “K-pop or not” debate.

Even before this break, there have been many debates around JJS in their ten months of activity, especially in regard to their simplistic performance style and their mysterious company, Red Ink Productions. Red Ink and JJS popped up overnight, and even ten months into business, Red Ink has not debuted any other groups. It has not been lost on netizens that the company’s initialism is RIP and that “red ink” is likely an allusion to the superstition that writing a name in red ink could spell death for that person, though what this could mean is unclear.

JJS follows some but not all of the K-pop industry’s norms. The trio is based in South Korea and uses the Korean language in many of their songs. JJS have performed on music shows and did a typical “debut” followed by a couple “comebacks” and go on livestreams during which they talk to their fans, who call themselves JDoubles, as friends.  

However, JJS does not lean into the K-pop fantasy as much as other bands do. The trio has been forthcoming about the fact that they “operate as a democracy,” rather than having one leader that mediates between company and group. Their CD releases are not the usual packages with photocards and other band-related paraphernalia, nor do they have official light sticks.

They have also managed to keep an almost unreal hold on their personal lives in an industry that lets fans feel entitled to personal information about their idols. Their online presence is fairly limited, and the band has been honest about the reasons for this—mental health and privacy.

This distancing has put a wall between JJS and Korean fans, which has led to much of their fandom existing outside of the country. The band seems to cater to this fanbase by touring largely outside of South Korea—and even outside of Asia. In their ten months as an active group, they have toured South Korea once, Europe and Australia twice, and recently ended a global tour in America rather than South Korea. The band’s music has also become increasingly English-based, though they have always used English in their music due to member Jisung having grown up in California.

So the question here is really, what puts the “K” into K-pop? Is it just that the band making the music is based in South Korea? That the lyrics are in the Korean language? Does that music have to sit soundly in the pop genre or would hardcore rock from South Korea fall under K-pop, as hip-hop music traditionally does? Should they be touring in the country and focusing on local fans? If they don’t, are they merely a global band who happen to be Korean?   

As usual, we’ll have a poll below where you can vote and state your case one way or the other. Remember, everything is anonymous, but keep things respectful!

Poll: Is JJS a K-Pop Band?

Duh! They’re a Korean pop band. – 57%

• BTS is still considered K-pop and they have songs in all English.
• Lots of idols are citizens of other countries but are still Korean. Same applies to kpop. This is a stupid debate.
  • Why are you on a site called music debates then?
• But… kpop is not a genre? It’s pop music made by Korean artists?
  • It sort of is, though. There’s aspects to K-pop that are different than regular pop.
• I mean they have the intense fans like every other kpop band
• They wouldn’t be invited to perform on those music shows if they weren’t kpop!

Not really… They’re just musicians from South Korea. – 43%

• They make good music but it’s more like indie rock than pop.
  • Idk I think it’s pop but they don’t follow the conventions of K-pop
  • They don’t make kpop or good music lol
• Does it matter? They’re gonna disband anyway.
  • Maybe if they actually take breaks they’ll be able to last longer than bands that only stay together b/c of contracts.
    • Does anyone know if they even have contracts? Red Ink’s site is barebones.
    • Who needs a break after only 10 fucking months?
      • Have you ever seen a kpop idol’s schedule?
• JJS are disrespectful of kpop. I feel bad for their fans.

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Crazy Fan Scams Idol: JJS’s Jisung Spotted with Mystery Foreigner Again

HangsangKPopNews.com

12 July 2024

Back in February, several foreign fans spotted JJS’s Park Jisung in a café in the United States having a coffee with an unknown person. All information about this person was suppressed by their management company, Red Ink Productions, and fans who tried to do some digging were promptly reprimanded. Most speculated this was just some fan who had won a meeting with Jisung or else a foreign company employee.

However, two days ago, this mystery person was photographed by several fans with Jisung by the sea. After two months without any new JJS music and little content, the JDoubles were excited to see their idol and approached. The foreigner turned away and hung back, hiding their face, but they were still in the background of some of these photos.

The mystery was broken wide open when an anonymous JDouble released information from that first café sighting. The mystery foreigner is an American by the name of Layne Kaleta. Kaleta has reportedly been pretending to be a boy in what many fans think is a ploy to get closer to Jisung and the rest of the group. Others are debating whether letting American and other Western-born performers into K-pop has tainted the industry. As the world becomes more interconnected, could this influx of Western K-pop idols be destroying an important part of modern Korean culture?

Unfortunately, there is little other information about this Layne Kaleta online. She dropped out of university, where she studied astronomy, after one year despite having a spot in the exclusive Honors Society. She is one year older than Jisung, the oldest of JJS, and only has a single private social media account on Instagram where she lists “pronouns” and her name and a single emoji promoting the LGBT+ agenda. No previous connection between Kaleta and JJS has been found, though several American JDoubles reported seeing Kaleta at JJS’s last overseas concert which just so happened to be the night before the café sighting.

JDoubles are eagerly awaiting JJS’s comeback after months away and fear this controversy may delay it, especially if the idols believe they are unsafe. If a crazy fan would go to all this trouble—creating a new identity, flying to another country—who’s to say what other crazy JDoubles will do to get closer to the boy band?

As of this article’s publication, neither Red Ink Productions nor JJS have made an official announcement on this topic.

Comments

• JDouble_JTrouble: What a pervert! How disgusting. I can’t believe she calls herself a JDouble.
• Jisungbabybear🌟: OMG, is Jisung okay? Does Layne have something to do with their break?
• Mi-Kyung Park: Guys, calm down, I’m sure it’s something simple like they said—a company employee or maybe someone Jisung met as a kid in California.
  • parkjisungstan4lyfe: Did anyone else not know Jisung was from California? No wonder his English is so good!
• Jay Thatcher (she/her): To clear up the blatant transphobia: Layne’s Instagram says his pronouns are he/him and the emoji “promoting the LGBT+ agenda” is a trans flag. “Journalism” like this is disgusting. Stop making queer JDoubles feel unwelcome.
  • JDouble_JTrouble: She’s a girl. That’s how she was born. She’s just mentally ill.
    • Jae’s Number One Bae: Someone should get her help so she realizes what she’s doing is sick.
  • 제이더블한민지❤️🌟JJS: I can’t believe you’re supporting her. She’s lying to Jisung and JDoubles. Jisung can’t be safe around her.
• Nadia Agarwal: 🏳️‍🌈❤️
  • JDouble_JTrouble: dyke
• parkjisungstan4lyfe: Everyone’s ignoring the fact that Jisung frequents local cafes on tour. I bet he’s done it before and nobody even knew! JDoubles in that café were lucky!
• Елизавета Иванов: Jisung oppa is so kind, lovely, and talented. Oppa is JDoubles’ biggest fan, and JDoubles are oppa’s biggest fan. Love you, Jisung oppa!
• 🌈intherainbowspotlight: Do you think Jisung wrote “Everglow” for Layne? Definitely queer undertones.
  • Sucker_for_Sangwon: Right?? “Don’t hide, don’t falter / let your colors show”?? “Rise above the whispers”?? Gay af.

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K-Pop Idol Jisung of JJS Meets Up with Trans Friend: A Win for Queer K-Pop Fans!

TheDragRag.com

13 July 2024

Though the K-pop trio JJS has hinted at their support of the LGBT+ community before—in lives like these and at concerts, pointing to pride flags and giving thumbs up or hearts, many of their songs encouraging people to be themselves—being queer is still taboo in South Korea. So much so that many major K-pop companies don’t allow their idols to say anything one way or the other. This would ruin the fantasy that the K-pop industry sells to fans, at least for those who dislike the queer community. But for us queer K-pop fans, the fantasy would be so much better! All we want is the support of our idols and other fans.

This topic has recently come into the forefront because of the scandal surrounding JJS’s main dancer Jisung. In February, he was seen with an unknown American person at KC Mugs Café in Kansas City, where JJS ended the American leg of their first world tour. Many forgot about this person, dubbed the “mystery foreigner,” speculating they were just a lucky fan or someone from Jisung’s childhood in California, until a few days ago this same person was spotted with Jisung again, this time in Jisung’s hometown in South Korea. The two were seen enjoying the seaside. A netizen leaked some of this person’s personal information, revealing that he is an American named Layne Kaleta. According to his Instagram bio, Layne is a member of the trans community who uses he/him pronouns. The rest of his account is private.

The JJS fandom, who call themselves JDoubles, are divided on how they feel about the mystery foreigner’s identity. Many are attacking him, claiming he is pretending to be trans to get closer to JJS and displaying the full transphobia of the K-pop fandom community. Others, including myself, are hoping this starts a dialogue at least amongst JDoubles about acceptance of the LGBT+ community in fandoms. The queer community has become more prominent in K-pop fandoms, and even if Layne Kaleta chooses to stay out of the limelight, if JJS openly support the queer community and admit to having personal queer friends, this could be a change for the better in what is becoming a global music community.

Comments

• JRJlovesJJS: I hope we get to see a live with Layne and Jisung! That would be fun!
• JDouble_JTrouble: She is disgusting. Ruining the JDouble fandom by endangering our boys.
  • Jay Thatcher (she/her): You aren’t a real JDouble if you don’t accept other JDoubles. Jisung is allowed to be friends with anyone he wants.
    • JDouble_JTrouble: That’s obviously not what I was saying. She’s made friends with him under false pretenses. That’s not a true friend.
      • Jay Thatcher (she/her): You’re not a true fan.
        • JDouble_JTrouble: I am a true fan. You should just go die. Snowflake.
• Québécoise JDouble 🌟🇨🇦: i knew there was a reason Jisung is my bias! he’s hot and talented and accepting! 🏳️‍🌈 any other bi JDoubles out there?
  • 🌈intherainbowspotlight: Me!🙋🏾‍♀️
  • Bai Meilin: Lesbian JDouble here!
• FlyingHighforJJS Art🌟: Check out my JJS fanart account!
• Teddy Clarkson (he/they): I love seeing other trans guys out there living their best lives! Layne, if you’re looking for a trans JDouble friend, DM me!
  • LifeMovesPrettyFast14196: @Teddy Clarkson (he/they) hmu too! I’m also a he/they JDouble!
  • Ace the Gayest: They/them JDouble over here!
  • JDouble_JTrouble: [comment deleted]
• Nadia Agarwal: So pretty, Jisung oppa! Sea air making you shine brighter.
• [account deactivated]: [comment deleted]
• Everglowgirl020798: Representing for the JDouble trans women! She/her!

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Official Message from Red Ink Productions

rip.org/en-kr

15 July 2024

This is Red Ink Productions.

We appreciate messages of concern for the safety of our artists. Rest assured that JJS’s safety is of utmost importance as it has always been.

JJS would like us to remind you to be concerned for other JDoubles’ safety, too. Any attempts to release someone else’s private information or spread harmful rumors will be met with immediate expulsion from the JJS Official Fansite and potential legal action.

Please respect the artists’ privacy and the privacy of their friends and family. Thank you for your support and cooperation.

Comments are disabled on this post.

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Comeback Announcement from JJS

instagram.com/JJSband/

19 July 2024

Hello, our lovely JDoubles!

We are happy to announce our comeback on M Countdown in one week with a performance of our new song “Two, One… Zero,” the title track of our upcoming album, Path of Stars. We are excited to see JDoubles in person after two whole months without you, and to celebrate our first anniversary with our favorite people.  

Today, we are releasing the “Two, One… Zero” mv as a gift. Thank you for being patient and allowing us to take a break so we can give you the best performances possible. Please give the new song lots of love. We can’t wait to blast off on this new leg of our journey with you all.

Shine bright, shine always.🌟 Love, JJS.

            -Jisung, Jae, & Sangwon.

Comments

• JRJlovesJJS: Is Layne still in Korea with you? Will he be at the show?
  • JDouble_JTrouble: I hope not! The company promised to keep the boys safe.
    • JRJlovesJJS: Who says Layne is a threat?
  • Mi-Kyung Park: I’ll be there! I can look for him if I can take my eyes off Sangwon’s abs.😍
  • Anneliese Kempf: Who is Layne?
• Nadia Agarwal: Wonderful gift from our lovely JJS!
• Jisungbabybear🌟: Are you okay, Jisung oppa? Has the company been keeping you safe?
• 임의의_사용자_이름: Vocals – 100% Dancing – 100% Visual – 100% Jisung – 100% Jae – 100% Sangwon – 100% JDoubles – 100% JJS – 100%
• FlyingHighforJJS Art🌟: Check out my JJS fanart account!
  • Anneliese Kempf: Followed!
• 제이더블한민지❤️🌟JJS: Why won’t you talk about the crazy fan? The one pretending to be a boy? Did the company press charges? Is that why they can’t discuss it?
  • Québécoise JDouble 🌟🇨🇦: remember our boys told us to respect privacy! it is not our business unless they share.  
• لافيزا زكريا: mv is amazing! Sangwon look so beautiful with pink hair. Like a flower. Listening on repeat!

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Path of Stars Tracklist

JJSOfficial.org/albums/path-of-stars

1. Intro: Ghost (Jae solo)
2. Two, One… Zero
3. The Speed of Light
4. Ess (Sangwon solo)
5. Do You Know?
6. Fireflies (Light Up the Night)
7. Weeping Willow
8. Waiting for Fate
9. Green Tea and Sweet Honey (Jisung solo)
10. Outro: Whispers of Tomorrow
11. Two, One… Zero (BallPit Remix)

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Official Message from JJS

instagram.com/JJSband/

27 July 2024

Hello, our lovely JDoubles!

Over the past few months, there have been some rumors floating around about one of our friends and what their intentions might be. We want to assure you that if we felt we were in any danger, we would not put ourselves back into that situation again and again.

We do not want this controversy to make any JDoubles uncomfortable in our community. We love performing for you and with you, and we would never do anything to jeopardize that. We ask that you trust us—and our loved ones—in the present and future, as you have trusted us in the past.

We decided to perform “Weeping Willow” at our comeback to invite new and old JDoubles under the branches of our music, somewhere all JDoubles can replace their fears with dreams, their realities with magic.  

JDoubles are our family, and as our family, we know you want us to be safe and healthy. JDoubles have made us who we are, and we are honored that you have made a place in your hearts and lives for us.

Please remember that, even though we are your idols first and always, we are human, too. We are not perfect, nor are our friends and family. We cannot always say everything we want to say or do everything we want to do.

If we can all respect each other’s humanity, JDoubles and JJS will continue to shine for all the world to see.  

Shine bright, shine always. 🌟 Love, JJS.

            -Jisung, Jae, & Sangwon.

 Comments are disabled on this post.

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“Weeping Willow” by JJS

JJSOfficial.org/lyrics/weeping-willow

Lyrics and music written by Park Jisung, Kim Sungjae, & Lee Sangwon

Verse 1

A secret grove where the stars align

A Weeping Willow hangs her branches low

An enchanting space where shadows embrace,

And leaves fall like stories to the garden floor.

Pre-Chorus

The veil falls away

Moonlight unravels

In the garden of forgotten joys

Under the lace of the Willow’s leaves

Teardrops of gold and secrets of old

Transform words unsaid into melodies so sweet.

Chorus

Six feet beneath the stars, still freefalling

A hidden door opens to the realm of dreams

Where moonbeams sing, where music soothes fears

And the Weeping Willow’s rhythm dances beneath our feet

Verse 2

Lost in the maze of who you are

Open the door; find what’s inside.

Listen to the harmony of your own echo

Blowing through the branches of the Weeping Willow

Pre-Chorus

The veil falls away

Moonlight unravels

In the garden of forgotten joys

Under the lace of the Willow’s leaves

Teardrops of gold and secrets of old

Transform words unsaid into melodies so sweet.

Chorus

Six feet beneath the stars, still freefalling

A hidden door opens to the realm of dreams

Where moonbeams sing, where music soothes fears

And the Weeping Willow’s rhythm dances beneath our feet

Bridge

Stories untold turn to love unexpected

Promises unkept turn to wishes fulfilled

By an alchemy of hearts and the magic of hope

Time that is lost is found again

Verse 3

The wind and the moon make room for the stars

Shine holy light on the Weeping Willow

Guarding porcelain hands and granite souls

Behind doors only you can find.

Outro

But this graceful giant won’t cry for you

To the ground below, her fleeting tears fall

For the secrets and the tales

Only a lonely Willow can know.

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Layne’s Response

instagram.com/always_changing_laynes/

1 August 2024

Please swipe to read the whole message. -Layne K

Comments are limited on this post.

• JJSband: Aw, man, after I brought you to the seaside and everything? -Jisung
  • always_changing_laynes: Sorry, man, I just couldn’t resist Sangwon’s charms. 😉
    • JJSband: My powers of charm is too strong…😘 -Sangwon
• Nina Santos: Love you, roomie! Thanks for letting me drag you to concerts.
  • always_changing_laynes: ❤️

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Author’s Note:

Thanks for reading! I try not to over-explain my writing on here, but I do have a few things I want to make clear about this particular piece because it became more complex than I’d intended it to be.

I used ChatGPT to assist me in writing the “Weeping Willow” lyrics as I am not a songwriter. I used only suggestions and small phrases. Even so, apologies to everyone who writes actual lyrics and can probably tell I didn’t put the words to music.

Some of the comments use “broken” English. I was trying to convey a more global comments section, as I often see many different dialects of English in comments online and autotranslated text isn’t always accurate. I did not intend to make any specific community’s members or country’s citizens seem unintelligent. If I did, I am deeply sorry and will endeavor to do better in the future.

I hope you enjoyed my “what if a K-pop band openly supported the trans community” thought experiment!

-Ryn PB